Arla Foods joins First Milk and Milk Link in Westbury Dairies

UK dairy concerns First Milk and Milk Link have agreed to sell a minority share in Wiltshire-based Westbury Dairies to Danish dairy giant Arla’s UK operations. The Westbury dairy contains a skimmed milk powder and bulk butter production facility, which acts as an outlet for excess milk at peak production times. For the dairies, the third partner will help reduce the costs for Westbury, which is currently operating at a high operational cost per unit due to its seasonal nature. All three shareholders intend to develop Westbury site beyond its existing skimmed milk powder and bulk butter production capabilities in order to make it more economically valuable throughout the year. For Arla, involvement in the Westbury venture will also provide the processor with drying facilities, as it no longer has access to this in its own stable, following the closure of the Northallerton creamery in May. The company moved its cream production to Stourton but the facility does not have a dryer needed to produce skimmed milk powder.