French firm to buy Staplemead creamery in Somerset

Milk Link has announced it intends to sell its Staplemead Creamery in Frome, Somerset, to the French food products business, Andros.

The deal is expected to be finalised by the end of September and ends Milk Link’s joint venture agreement with Arla. Consequently, Arla plans to enter a new “co-packing agreement” with Andros, which means the French firm takes over production of a range of fresh dairy ingredients at the Staplemead site.

Milk Link’s chief executive Neil Kennedy said the sale was in line with the co-op’s ingredient business strategy and would allow it to focus on its skimmed milk powder and butter ingredients’ production at the Westbury Dairies facility.