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First Milk has announced the acquisition of Blackmore Vale Farm Cream, also known as BV Dairy, for an undisclosed sum. Based in Dorset, UK, BV Dairy is a manufacturer of chilled dairy products, serving customers across England, Wales and Scotland. It offers end-to-end solutions for food manufacturing and food service, as well as co-manufacturing services for growth markets such as home meal solutions and the gut health sector.

First Milk's CEO, Shelagh Hancock, said: “The BV Dairy business has strong customer relationships and a reputation for quality and service across food manufacture and food service. This provides a genuine extension to our business, extending our manufacturing and market reach, offering a platform for the further growth and development of our business.” First Milk's farmer director and vice-chairman, Mike Smith, commented: “This purchase builds on the existing strengths of First Milk and will bring wider benefits, adding value for our members whilst creating opportunities for our colleagues and enabling us to extend our regenerative positioning into a broader range of dairy products and customers. This is a great step forward as we work together to secure the future.” BV Dairy's managing director, Jim Highnam, added: “Having made the decision to sell the business, we wanted to ensure that the new owners would provide a secure future for our customers, colleagues, farmers and suppliers. As such, I’m pleased to finalise this transaction and see BV Dairy become part of First Milk, as both businesses share a down-to-earth, pragmatic approach, balancing the needs of all stakeholders. I look forward to working with our new First Milk colleagues to continue to grow and develop BV Dairy.”