FIRST MILK has announced plans to make its Lake District and Haverfordwest creameries 'work harder' – and it could cost up to 30 jobs between the two sites.

There has been some £40million spent on the two creameries over the last five years, and First Milk’s chief executive Shelagh Hancock made it clear that it was time to increase the co-op's returns from that investment.

“These investments will continue, as the amount of cheese that we are manufacturing will increase next year and is forecast to grow further in the future in line with demand from our customer base," said Ms Hancock.

“However, in light of this we recognise that we need to improve the strength, efficiency and flexibility of our main manufacturing sites and make the assets work harder. This will allow us to utilise both sites better and deliver improved returns to our farmer members.

“At our manufacturing sites our specific focus is on driving more for less – producing consistent good quality cheese, while concentrating on high productivity and factory optimisation. These changes are part of delivering this strategy.”

First Milk confirmed that the proposed changes would result in a reduction in headcount, with the proposal to remove around 20 roles from the Lake District site structure, and around 10 roles from Haverfordwest.

“We recognise that the impact of these proposed changes is significant for the people affected and we are committed to treating people with respect and consideration as we move through a 30-day consultation period," said Ms Hancock.

Co-op communications director Paul Flanagan told The Scottish Farmer: “Making these two creameries more efficient will allow us to make more cheese and in turn put more money into the pockets of all our members. A number of our producers in South-west Scotland supply the Lake District operation.”