Adams Foods, a UK-based cheese supplier, has partnered with British farmer-owned dairy co-operative First Milk to establish a fully integrated supply chain for hard cheese in the UK retail, foodservice and wholesale sectors.
As part of the long-term strategic partnership, the companies will work together and take advantage of the complementary resources, skills and expertise.
At its facility in Leek, Staffordshire, Adams Foods will cut, pack and market 50,000 tons of hard cheese, including branded cheddars, produced at First Milk's Lake District and Haverfordwest creameries.
It will manage the sales and marketing of this cheese to British retail, foodservice and wholesale customers.
First Milk will continue to oversee the sales and marketing of its cheddars to export markets.
The partnership will create an integrated supply chain for the UK hard cheese market as well as guarantee existing retail, foodservice and wholesale customers a secure, efficient and traceable supply of British and Irish hard cheese.
It will secure a sustainable, long-term outlet for the majority of First Milk's hard cheese and reinforce Adams Foods' position as a leading supplier of both British and Irish cheese in the UK.
Adams Foods CEO Ian Toal said, "Today's announcement is a further important move towards our strategic vision of becoming one of the leading suppliers of cheese in the UK and will increase our turnover to in excess of £500 million."
First Milk CEO Kate Allum said this partnership is directly in line with the company's strategic objective of adding value and delivering a sustainable future for its farmers.
"It not only enables us to work with a partner to deliver a short, integrated supply chain, but most importantly guarantees secure returns for our members' milk," Allum added.
