Rock Farm Dairy agreement reached

Rock Farm Dairy, which went into administration on 1 March, has entered into an agreement with the founder of a school milk supplier to process and distribute milk.

Jon Thornes, founder of Cool Milk in Lincolnshire, has set up UK Dairy Sales to buy raw milk for Rock Farm.

The manufacturing and distribution agreement will mean Rock Farm, in Wheatley Hill, Co Durham, will process and distribute milk and cream on behalf of UK Dairy Sales for the next 90 days. During this time the administrators will be working on a more permanent solution.

A spokesman for Mr Thornes said the door was being kept open to other milk suppliers.

Twenty-two farmers are owed money by Rock Farm and a meeting today (6 March) where producers met with administrators saw a large turnout.

Most of the 88 jobs have been saved at the dairy, which has been run by the Gregory family for over 100 years.

Administrator PricewaterhouseCoopers said it had received a number of approaches from interested parties looking to support Rock Farm with continuity of supply.

“Milk supplies had ceased prior to our appointment and there was only a single day’s deliveries left in the dairy,” said Stephen Oldfield, joint administrator and PwC partner.

“Quick work and not closing the dairy ensured customers continued to be supplied from the dairy and the majority of the jobs at the company have been secured.”

Mr Oldfield urged customers and suppliers to support the agreement.

“We need to maintain deliveries across the North East and give Rock Farm and UK Dairy Sales every opportunity to maintain production. The level of support will ultimately dictate future staffing levels, but we very much hope that the tolling agreement will allow customers to continue to support the dairy going forward.”

Rock Farm has the capacity to process more than 150,000 litres of milk a day.