Creating partnerships to maximise business opportunities and growthFirst Milk works hard to develop innovative partnerships with key players in the supply chain. It looks to create new opportunities in the market and develop joint initiatives which maximise value and lead to business growth. Creative partnerships are a key part of First Milk’s goal of developing a truly 21st-century farmer business which is integrated and actively involved in the marketing and processing of milk beyond the farm gate. First Milk works with many of the leading multiples developing joint initiatives particularly in the area of own brand cheese. First Milk has a unique position of being able to supply cheese from England, Scotland and Wales and is playing an active role in encouraging the purchasing of regionally created, British made cheese by these key retail players. In addition, First Milk works with other dairy based partners including:
|
 As the UK’s leading dairy chilled food supplier, First Milk has a longstanding working relationship with Dairy Crest. First Milk is Dairy Crest’s preferred external supplier of liquid milk and services a number of sites around the country including Chadwell Heath, Essex Hanworth in London, Fenstanton in Cambridge, Nottingham and Severnside in Gloucestershire. Dairy Crest is focussed on the liquid ‘middle ground’ market which includes independent retailers. In certain areas of the country, Dairy Crest and First Milk operate a joint haulage agreement in order to keep costs to a minimum for farmers. |
 Nestlé is an international food industry name with a global reputation not just in coffee and chocolate but also yogurt and fromage frais. First Milk supplies liquid milk into Nestlé’s Girvan factory in Scotland which is the only chocolate crumb factory in the UK. Liquid milk is also supplied into Nestlé’s Cumbria plant at Dalston where specialist powders are made for ingredients such as cappuccino drinks. |
 One of the UK’s largest and most successful liquid milk processing businesses which procures, produces and delivers liquid milk to customers throughout the country from five major processing dairies in Aberdeen, East Kilbride, Glasgow, Manchester and Droitwich Spa. First Milk are Robert Wiseman Dairies' largest external shareholders with a 15% stake in the company. |
 First Milk supplies all of ASDA’s retailer branded English, Welsh and Scottish cheddars. We have worked closely with ASDA to provide a range of high quality regional cheddars which their customers demand. We are also working with ASDA to ensure that their retailer branded cheddar will communicate the true provenance of the cheese. |
 As a like-minded co-operative organisation, First Milk is delighted to supply The Co-operative’s 3000 stores across the country with a range of cheddars from The Lake District Creamery, Campbeltown and Haverfordwest. This new partnership was confirmed with The Co-operative’s attendance at the Royal Highland Show in 2007 meeting the key farmers and managers who are linked to the Campbeltown Creamery. One year into this contract, the relationship goes from strength to strength. |
 First Milk has a long-standing relationship with Morrisons, focused on our Haverfordwest creamery. An ongoing development programme has ensured that the cheese flavours produced match Morrisons’ requirements. Morrisons has also been a big supporter of the Campbeltown creamery, and use its name to highlight the provenance of its Scottish cheddar range. |
 First Milk has an extensive range of its regional cheeses within Somerfield stores. As the main supplier of cheddar into Somerfield, First Milk is able to offer a complete range of English, Welsh, and Scottish cheddars. In January 2008, Somerfield launched a new range of Welsh Cheddars from our Haverfordwest Creamery. |
 First Milk’s relationship with Sainsbury’s is focused on our Scottish creameries. All three Scottish premium brands – Isle of Bute Mature and Extra Mature, Isle of Arran Medium and Mull of Kintyre Extra Mature – are currently stocked by the retailer. |
 First Milk is working closely with the UK’s largest retailer. All three Scottish premium brands are already supplied to Tesco and we create retailer label English Mild and Welsh Mild and Medium. Tesco’s premium Scottish cheddar is Finest Mull of Kintyre Extra Mature from the Campbeltown creamery. Recent development work has focused on supplying organic cheddar from both the Haverfordwest and Isle of Bute creameries. |
 First Milk has a partnership with Waitrose which is presently focussed on our three Scottish brands. Isle of Arran Medium, Isle of Bute Mature and the Mull of Kintyre duo of Extra Mature and Vintage can all be found in Waitrose stores. |
|
