The latest news, trends, analysis, interviews and podcasts from the global food and beverage industry

Pembrokeshire Creamery has announced it will open a new liquid milk processing facility in Haverfordwest, Wales, in the first quarter of 2024. During its initial 12-18 month phase, Pembrokeshire Creamery will have the ability to bottle 60 million litres of milk, which will later increase to 120 million litres annually upon reaching full capacity. This will enable UK supermarkets to offer their Welsh customers milk that originates from Wales and is bottled within the country, eliminating the need for transportation to England for processing, therefore, reducing food miles and increasing supply chain efficiency. According to the company, local processing at the Haverfordwest site is projected to generate around 60 new job opportunities in phase one, "as well as securing or creating employment in ancillary industries and supply chains while providing an overall benefit to the local farming economy and rural communities". Managing director Mark McQuade said: "We’ve already had a huge amount of interest from supermarkets and wholesalers keen to sell Welsh milk that’s been bottled here in Wales. We’re hoping that our presence at the show will be an opportunity for dairy farmers, customers or other suppliers to make connections and for us to start building business relationships, which will translate into long-term economic benefits for Welsh farming and our rural economy." He continued: “Ultimately, our end goal is for all Welsh milk that is sold in Wales to have been processed and bottled in Wales". Earlier this year, Pembrokeshire Creamery acquired a development plot at Pembrokeshire Food Park as part of a £17 million investment set to create 80 jobs over the next three years.