The investment will make Lockerbie the largest dairy processing facility in Scotland and one of the largest and most advanced creameries in the UK.
The site will benefit from a major redevelopment with the installation of the latest processing technology increasing annualised production by 12,000 tons to over 37,000 tons of cheese per annum.
The major investment being made at Lockerbie will not only secure the long-term future of the creamery but also help to provide a strong platform for the expansion of dairying in Scotland and the north of England. In line with the new creamery’s increased processing capacity, Milk Link will now be actively recruiting additional members in Scotland and the north of England to supply Lockerbie.
The investment will build on Lockerbie’s reputation for making great tasting cheese and improve further its product consistency and productivity.
Commenting on the investment Neil Kennedy, chief executive, said: “Our investment at Lockerbie will transform the creamery and reinforce Milk Link’s leadership position in the production of high quality British cheeses. At the same time, we believe it provides a timely boost to the dairying sector in south west Scotland and the north of England as we increase the volume of milk from the region going into value added dairy processing.
“The capital investment programme will be the largest undertaken to date by Milk Link and indeed is one of the largest investment projects in cheese manufacturing seen over the last 20 years in the UK. It follows on from Milk Link’s major investments at Taw Valley in relation to a next generation whey processing plant and the building of a new soft cheese creamery at Cornish Country Larder’s Trevarrian site, both of which will be fully operational this autumn.
“Work at the creamery will start later this year and will be completed by autumn 2012. Our decision to invest at Lockerbie reflects the growing demand for our quality British cheeses, the skill and dedication of our staff at Lockerbie and the potential of the south west Scotland and north of England milk field to supply us with increased milk volumes.”
Source: Milk Link
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