UK dairy groups couple-up to tackle supply chain issues
Following a strategic review of their operations, industry body Dairy UK and research group the Dairy Council will share the same offices as from 1 April this year, in a move designed to bring their operations closer together.
Working in conjunction with groups like the UK’s National Farmers’ Union (NFU), Dairy UK claims the cooperation will be better poised to meet industry needs across the supply chain.
Funding
As part of the move, the Dairy Council will now be solely funded through the auspices of Dairy UK, having previously received financial support under a joint agreement.
Council director Judith Bryans said that she believed the new agreement would serve to raise the profile of its work in attempting to play up the nutrition benefits of dairy products to the consumer.
Jim Begg, who heads trade association Dairy UK, mirrored these sentiments, claiming that the decision would be of benefit to the entire Uk industry in the long run.
“[The Dairy Council’s] qualified nutritionists will give us more lobbying clout than ever in the dairy nutrition arena,” he stated. “Overall, this review is good news for dairy farmers and processors and strengthens the voice of the industry.”
Farm focus
DairyCo, which will renounce its part-funding in the Dairy Council, said that it would instead finance an information project focusing specifically on milk farming to avoid duplication of effort with Dairy UK.
“Increased co-ordination in the supply chain will boost the good work of all parties,” stated Ken Boyns, chief executive of DairyCo. “I am confident we will see increasingly effective promotion and defence of dairy farming and dairy products.”
