New Creamery for Campbeltown

NFU Scotland has heralded the announcement of a brand new creamery for Campbeltown in Kintyre as a welcome shot in the arm for the Scottish dairy sector.

The creamery, to be built on a new site by farmer co-operative First Milk, will replace the co-op’s existing cheese plant in the town and will guarantee a long-term future for the 42 dairy farms in the area as well as numerous local jobs.

Local dairy farmer and former Kintyre NFUS branch chairman Sandy Pirie said:

“This is a great day for the future of dairy farming in the Kintyre peninsula. This area has an outstanding reputation for producing quality milk and quality cheese but for that to continue, serious investment in a new creamery was needed.

“Discussion on the creamery have been going on for some time. Now that the announcement has been made, it sends out a strong message to those dairy farmers supplying the plant that First Milk are committed to the future of cheese production in the area. With a bigger and better creamery producing a high value cheese, this could be the stimulus needed to boost milk production in Kintyre.”

NFU Scotland Vice-President, Allan Bowie added:

“The Scotland Food and Drink policy, launched by Cabinet Secretary Richard Lochhead at the Highland Show last week, is off to a flying start with a landmark announcement that boosts farming, food production and the local economy in a vulnerable part of the country.

“The Scottish Government and First Milk, backed by significant funds from both, have delivered a much-needed shot in the arm for dairy farmers both regionally and nationally. Confidence levels amongst milk producers are in need of a boost and this significant investment in modern plant to produce an award-winning product maps out the route to reinvigorating the dairy sector across Scotland.

“Local farmers supplying their milk into a local creamery to produce a world-renowned cheese is a superb success story that all parts of the supply chain – farmers, First Milk and its retailer customers - can take pride in. Just as important is the fact that people around the world love and value Mull of Kintyre cheese and that future supplies are now guaranteed.”