Rock Farm Dairy wins reprieve in UK
Troubled UK concern Rock Farm Dairy has been saved from liquidation by Cool Milk, a school milk supply company. Jon Thorne, Cool Milk’s chairman notes, “It’s a 104-year-old concern, and I think these are the businesses we should be supporting,” he says. The family-owned dairy processor is located in northeast England.
Thorne has put up cash to save the 88 jobs at the dairy and Rock Farm now will be known under the name of UK Dairy Sales. Cool Milk will be using the facility to pack its milk, and some of the vehicles for school milk deliveries. Thorne is hoping to buy the lease for the site and the equipment as well.
There are no plans to usurp the Gregory family, which has run the dairy throughout its history. “They are very much back in control now, and it’s about helping the family move forward,” Thorne notes. He will be a majority shareholder.
Rock Farm has an annual turnover of around £17 million (€20.3m) and can process up to 150,000 litres of milk per day. It sells to a diverse customer base across northern England.
