Milk chairman, Richard Greenhalgh (left), and chief executive, Peter Humphreys (right) celebrating the deal to purchase Dairy Crest's cheese business
Other success stories
First Milk
First Milk is the largest dairy farmers' co-operative in the UK with the HQ in Paisley. Our members' farms stretch from Central Scotland to the South of England, from West Wales to East Anglia; our 3000 farmers produce around 16% of the country's milk.
This is a momentous time for the UK dairy industry. We face many challenges including changing consumer demands, increased international competition and a tough retail environment. However, we turn these challenges into opportunities at First Milk, making ambitious plans to develop into a leading player in the industry.
In October 2006, we purchased Dairy Crest's retailer brand cheese operation for £62 million, making First Milk the largest UK-based cheese supplier. We now have direct relationships with all the major supermarkets and caterers. We also have several joint venture arrangements with other dairy businesses and are the largest external shareholders in Robert Wiseman Dairies.
We will continue to seek investment opportunities that will enable us to work with major retailers and food service customers, managing the supply chain from farm-to-consumer. It's a new style of dairy business for a new dairy future.