First Milk, the UK’s largest dairy cooperative, has announced its largest single investment to date: £16.8 million is being invested in the modernisation of the Lake District Creamery in Cumbria. This will reinforce the site’s role as a cornerstone of British Cheddar production. The investment involves replacing the existing cheese vats with larger, more efficient models. This is expected to increase the plant’s production capacity by a further 20%.
The project spans two financial years and builds on previous investments of around £30 million made in recent years. For First Milk, the Lake District Creamery is a strategically important site that plays a central role not only in cheese production but also in the manufacture of high-quality dairy ingredients.
A key aspect is the link to the strategic partnership with Arla Foods Ingredients in the whey protein sector. The Lake District Creamery is already benefiting from investments aimed at meeting the growing global demand for protein-rich dairy products.