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German dairy giant Ehrmann has acquired Trewithen Dairy, a family-owned dairy processor based in Cornwall, England, as part of the company's strategy to boost its presence in the UK market.

As part of the deal, Ehrmann will invest £20 million to expand Trewithen's facilities and establish a state-of-the-art production plant in the Glynn Valley region of Cornwall.

The new plant is expected to commence operations in 2026 and will be responsible for manufacturing Ehrmann's range of dessert products, such as its High Protein and Grand Dessert lines, which the company expects will account for 15% of its global sales.

Christian Ehrmann, chairman of Ehrmann SE, said: "Ehrmann has enjoyed success in the UK over the last two years working with major supermarket chains to bring new dairy tastes to consumers. The acquisition is highly significant as it opens up local UK production; enabling us to reduce the carbon footprint and guarantee the freshness of our products."

The move marks the latest chapter in Ehrmann's over 100-year history and brings together two family-owned businesses committed to producing high-quality, sustainable dairy products.

Trewithen Dairy has been owned by the Clarke family since 1976 and has established itself as a leading processor of branded and own-label Cornish dairy products.

"We're incredibly proud of our roots in quality pastures and cows that produce some of the best milk in the world," said Francis Clarke, owner of Trewithen Dairy. "Quality and sustainable growth are core values we share deeply with our new colleagues at Ehrmann. That's why we decided to join forces to breathe fresh air into the Cornish dairy industry as we enter our next phase of expansion."

The acquisition will secure the jobs of over 260 people currently employed at Trewithen Dairy and is expected to create additional skilled roles for the local Cornish economy.

Furthermore, the expansion of the production plant will provide a major, stable purchaser for Cornwall's milk supply, ensuring a competitive price for local dairy farmers.

"We're delighted that we're able to expand our offering, create more jobs in the local economy, and further bring the joy of quality Cornish produce to more tastebuds across the UK," said Paul Berne, CEO of Trewithen Dairy.

Ehrmann, which generates over €1.1 billion in annual revenue, currently sells its products in over 75 countries worldwide through seven international production sites and nine sales offices.

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