THE CLOSURE of Tomlinson’s Dairies in Wrexham has left around 20 Welsh dairy farmers without a processor.

Farmers were told the news in phone and text messages on Saturday (October 12) that Tomlinsons could not accept their supplies, however the company has not yet released details of the reasons behind their closure. The farmers were given the name of three other milk processors, two of which agreed to take milk supplies from those affected.

The business was established 36 years ago by brothers Philip and John Tomlinson as a doorstep round, using milk from their family dairy farm in Minera. Until the recent announcement, the company was one of the UK’s largest dairy companies, processing and packaging Welsh, British and Organic milk and dairy products to multiple sectors across the market.

The Welsh Government has expressed their ‘disappointment’ at the news of its closure: "We have worked closely with Tomlinsons dairy over the last 18 months to try to help them resolve their ongoing business issues and have now established a taskforce to work with the staff affected by the closure and we are in discussions with farming unions and other stakeholders to consider what support is required at this difficult time."