Wiseman clinches UK supermarket deal

UK – Scotland-based processor Robert Wiseman has secured a milk contract with supermarket multiple Sainbury, following a three month supply trial.

The deal means that Wiseman will supply Sainsbury’s supermarkets in the north and Midland regions of England with full fat, semi-skimmed and skimmed milk. It is understood to represent about 40 million litres of milk per year, or 10% of Sainsbury’s total milk sales. Previously, Sainsbury only bought milk from processors Dairy Crest and Express Dairies.

A Wiseman spokesman told ConnectingDairy News that the announcement was a “pivotal” part of the company’s strategy. He added that it means that Wiseman now supplies milk to the “complete set” of the UK’s four largest supermarkets – Tesco, Sainsbury, Safeway and Somerfield.

The news is another step in Wiseman’s push southwards from its Scottish base. It is good news for the company’s new milk processing plant at Droitwich Spa, near Birmingham, as the company tries to increase the plant’s annual processing volume to 500 million litres.

In a statement, Wiseman chairman Alan Wiseman said: “We hope that over time we can further develop our business with Sainsbury and that this is the beginning of a fruitful relationship.” Robert Wiseman processes around 850 million litres of UK milk per year, about 14% of the market.