FDBusiness.com

UK liquid milk specialist Robert Wiseman Dairies has won a new two-year contract to supply The Co-operative, the UK’s fifth biggest food retailer. Robert Wiseman Dairies currently supplies around 75% of The Co-operative’s own-brand conventional milk, with the remaining 25% supplied by Dairy Crest. Under the terms of the new dedicated supply agreement, from August 2011, Wiseman will take responsibility for 100% of the volume requirement of about 363m litres per annum.

By moving to dedicated supply, The Co-operative is committed to setting clear standards in animal welfare, minimising environmental impact and encouraging bio-diversity on the farms selected for the scheme.

Billy Keane, managing director of Robert Wiseman Dairies.

“We are very pleased to further extend our relationship with The Co-operative Group, and delighted that this important customer has taken the decision to set up a dedicated group of dairy farmers drawn from the Wiseman Milk Partnership who will benefit from a premium farm gate milk price,” says Billy Keane, managing director of Robert Wiseman Dairies. “We have invested heavily to create a network of dairies focused on fresh milk and worked hard to build a reputation for quality and service. We now look forward to working closely with The Co-operative Group over the next few months to put these new fresh milk supply arrangements in place.”