British dairy Wiseman’s board says its anticipates turnover and underlying profits for the year will be in line with previous expectations. Sales volumes have increased further with additional volumes to Tesco starting in December 2010, and the company recently announced a significant increase in the volume supplied to The Co-operative Group. Volumes provided to the Co-Operative have consistently increased in recent years and, from August 2011 it will supply own-brand milk to around 4,000 Co-operative food stores.

In the convenience sector, Neilsen research confirmed Wiseman’s ‘Black and White’ branded range of fresh milk products as Britain’s 36th biggest brand for the year to December 25, 2010. This reflects strong volume growth in the range, with the brand being placed 10 places higher than the year before.
The increased volumes will utilise a significant proportion of the additional capacity available following the commissioning of the final phase at Wiseman’s Bridgwater dairy. The completion of this work in November 2010 increased capacity at the dairy to 500 million litres per annum. It has also resulted in operational improvements at Bridgwater and a reduction in overtime working at other dairies.

Wiseman is also further consolidating. It has consulted with employees on the future of two of its sites, Okehampton dairy in Devon and a distribution depot in Cupar, Fife. Further to this, it has been determined that both sites will close during April. The closures are expected to result in a non recurring charge of