Dairy giant Müller Milk & Ingredients has announced the completion of a £15 million (€16.7 million) upgrade of its fresh milk dairy in Belshill, Scotland.
Following the completion of the upgrade, the Belshill dairy, which is Scotland's largest, will now process 370 million litres of fresh milk and cream each year, with milk provided by 230 Scottish dairy farmers.
The completed project includes a new 'filling hall' for cream production, two additional fresh milk production lines, energy-efficient cooling systems, and an extended chill space to increase capacity for finished products.
The Belshill facility also produces milk bottles on-site, as well as recyclable Tetra Pak cartons made with paperboard, a renewable raw material.
Local Production
“Milk from our Bellshill dairy is sourced from local farmers who shape our landscape and our environment," said Müller Milk & Ingredients CEO Patrick Müller. "It’s in fridges less than two days after leaving farms because of our investment in processing and logistics infrastructure.
“It’s clear however that in terms of profitability, the fresh milk sector has reached a tipping point. Change is required because if processing goes, it’s gone forever. We are confident that Müller will succeed in this environment because we are well invested, progressive and efficient."
Müller said that the on-site bottle manufacturing capability enables the company to cut down on logistics emissions and also reduce the amount of plastic in its bottles, to a target of 50% by 2020. Müller has already reached 40% recycled material use in its bottles.
Pictured at the opening are is Patrick Müller with Scottish 400 metres hurdles record holder Eilidh Doyle.
© 2018 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Stephen Wynne-Jones. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine.
