ARLA has unveiled plans to build an £88 million UHT (ultra high temperature) Centre of Excellence at its site in Lockerbie.
The facility would support its production of UHT milk, which does not require refrigeration until it is opened, and also its Lactofree milk range.
Speaking about the investment proposals, David Boulanger, executive VP and head of supply chain at Arla, said, “We have chosen Lockerbie as a future UHT centre of excellence in the UK as it allows us to build scale, drive significant efficiencies and strengthen our resilience. Located close to a large milk pool, Lockerbie brings additional sustainability advantages with our recently invested anaerobic digestion plants.
“The new investment will enable us to increase UK production capabilities in UHT and Lactofree technologies, supporting further growth with our strategic customers in the UK. This investment for Lockerbie implies that we are proposing to move some production from other sites in the UK and as a result, will potentially impact some of our colleagues in Stourton and Settle.”
Mark Boot, executive VP Europe at Arla Foods, added, “Arla is one of the biggest food companies in the UK, and as a global dairy cooperative, we want to continue to grow within this market, whilst continuing to look for opportunities to create more value for our farmer owners’ milk. This investment comes on top of over EUR 355 million site investments announced in 2024 for the country. We have a responsibility to provide high quality dairy to our consumers and customers, and today’s news demonstrates Arla’s confidence in the future of British dairy.”
