Arla Foods has 2,800 UK farmers

Arla Foods amba has almost doubled the number of British farmer owners, with a further 1,300 becoming co-owners of Europe’s largest dairy cooperative. It also seeks to secure a further 300 million litres of owner milk in 2014, adding to the three billion litres supplied by the 2,800 now enrolled. The British farmer owners supply 95% of Arla UK’s milk pool and are part of the European network of 13,500 farmer owners across Denmark, Germany, the UK, Belgium, Luxembourg and Sweden, the company says.
Johnnie Russell, British farmer director of Arla Foods amba, says, “The price a farmer receives for his milk today is crucial. However, with quota abolition next year, which is likely to result in a huge upsurge in European milk production, it is essential that a farmer is able to benefit from the returns from  world markets. Arla has a  strategy in place whereby we can access world markets to tap into a broader marketplace for our products, which in turn deliver a higher return. The inclusion of Westbury skimmed milk powder on the GDT auction is just one example of this.”.

Mansel Raymond, chairman of the National Farmers Union’s dairy board, says: “For years UK farmers have looked on enviously at the apparent disparity between this country and mainland European milk prices. Its good news that Arla has reopened its recruitment window so that British dairy farmers who wish to join Europe’s largest dairy co-operative will have the opportunity to be part of this successful business.”