Arla Foods, the UK’s largest dairy co-operative, has begun construction of a new £90 million centre of excellence at its Lockerbie creamery in Dumfries and Galloway.
The major investment will focus on the production of UHT and lactose-free milk and is expected to create around 90 new jobs. It follows the recent completion of a £34 million upgrade to the site’s cheddar plant, one of the largest cheese-making facilities in the country.
The Lockerbie creamery, officially opened by Queen Elizabeth 50 years ago, currently employs 242 people and produces around 600 million litres of milk and 42,000 tonnes of cheddar each year. The site plays a central role in Scotland’s dairy industry, with the wider region responsible for approximately 80 per cent of national milk production.
David Boulanger, executive vice-president of Arla Foods, said the investment underlined the company’s long-term commitment to the region. “Lockerbie is an important milk-producing area, and we’re very proud because we have a talented workforce here. This future investment will attract new people, and we have programmes to bring in talent from across the UK, with Lockerbie playing a key role.”
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Arla, which is farmer-owned, collects milk from 231 farms across south-west Scotland. Local dairy farmer Mark Stewart, based near Lochmaben, welcomed the announcement, describing it as a significant boost for the sector.
“For us as farmers, it’s massive,” he said. “It gives us the confidence to invest in our own businesses, knowing that Arla has the confidence to invest in the future. They’ve given us the opportunity to expand and make our farms more profitable.”
The new centre is set to strengthen Arla’s operations in Scotland while supporting innovation and sustainable growth in the UK’s dairy industry.
