UK dairy cooperative Arla Foods is investing £179m in its Taw Valley Creamery in Devon, creating more than 100 jobs. It is the biggest investment ever made by Arla in the UK and is part of ambitious plans to start exporting mozzarella globally by 2027.
The cash injection will be used to carry out a major upgrade to the factory and fit it out with state-of-the-art technology, the cooperative said.
Bas Padberg, managing director of Arla Foods UK, said: “It has been 50 years since the now King opened Taw Valley Creamery in Devon, and we’re proud to be announcing our plans to invest in this site, and bring more jobs to the local area.
“Not only is this great news for the region, but this investment signals our desire to become a major player within the global mozzarella market.”
Arla will be submitting planning approval to enable the business to make changes to the creamery. If approved, work will begin immediately on site. A public consultation will also be held, with further details to be shared in the next month.
Mr Padberg said exporting would help to increase the value of farmers’ milk, which would benefit farmer owners in the UK.
“As one of the biggest food companies in the UK, it is only natural that we look for further opportunities to grow so we can continue to return a fair price back to our farmer owners,” he added.
Arla Foods UK board director and Arla farmer Arthur Fearnall said: “We are incredibly proud to see the UK business receive this significant investment. We’re excited to see how the plans at Taw Valley Creamery progress over the coming years, as we continue to work together to ensure all Arla farmer owners receive the best price for their milk.”
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