Arla Foods UK opens new cheese storage and maturation facility

Arla, the farmer-owned dairy company and UK’s largest cheese manufacturer, has officially opened a new facility for the storage and maturation of its cheese.

Cheeses from Taw Valley, Llandyrnog and Lockerbie will now go to the purpose built facility in Whitchurch, Shropshire.

Once matured, cheese is moved to the nearby Arla cutting and packing site in Oswestry before being despatched to the retailers.

Previously the cheeses were stored and matured at a variety of locations.

Consolidation of facilities

At the start of 2016, Arla signed a long-term contract with Shropshire-based storage and distribution company, Grocontinental, to build and manage the facilities.

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The warehouse prior to stocking with cheese.

The new 32,000 pallet chilled store will feature high density racking together with dedicated cheese grading facilities. 

Ian Brown, vice president, Arla Foods UK Logistics said that the decision to consolidate the maturation facilities from three creameries into one facility reflects how the company is investing for the future to ensure quality, competitiveness and economies of scale.