IDB doubles its milk capacity at UK plant

by Caitriona Murphy - 18/10/2011

"The Irish Dairy Board (IDB) has doubled capacity for processing milk powder into specialised dairy ingredients at its plant in Leek, Staffordshire, England."

The new state-of-the-art Adams Food Ingredients manufacturing centre has increased the IDB capacity to process milk powder from 10,000t/year to 20,000t annually.

The 65,000sqft facility, including an innovation centre, was completed on time and on budget at a cost of €12.7m.

The plant develops customised dairy ingredient blends for customers in Britain and export markets, and was a key element in the IDB's €70m capital development programme.

Fifty people will be employed at the centre, which is located beside the IDB's cheese pre-packaging plant. The cheese plant was built in 2009 and is the largest pre-packer of cheese to the British retail sector, processing more than 3.5m packets a week.

IDB chief executive Kevin Lane said the Leek investment would provide the Irish dairy industry with further market opportunities to meet the growing demand from food manufacturers for high quality dairy ingredients.

Officially opening the plant on Friday, Minister of State Shane McEntee said the new centre consolidated the position of the IDB and the Irish dairy sector in our most important export market.

"Exports of dairy products to the UK in 2010 were valued at almost €800m and there is considerable growth potential in this market," he added.

Meanwhile, co-ops across Ireland have decided not to make any changes to milk prices for September supplies.

While the boards of Connacht Gold, Tipperary and Lisavaird will make their decisions this week, prices at all other co-ops remain unchanged.

With milk supplies beginning to wind down, Arrabawn remains on 34.5c/l for September, Lakeland stays on 34.25c/l and Glanbia and Kerry remain at 34c/l.

More Details: http://www.independent.ie/farming/idb-doubles-its-milk-capacity-at-uk-plant-2908428.html