Efficiency drive crucial to compete with imports – Dairy Crest boss

That was the pledge made by the Dairy Crest chief executive Mark Allen in this exclusive video for FoodManufacture.co.uk.​

Dairy Crest’s drive for efficiencies has led to several factory and dairy closures in recent years, but Allen said there were no plans for further closures.

He did, however, vow to rigorously pursue costs savings, claiming that the best way of running a business today, wasn’t necessarily the best for tomorrow.

Blockades and protests​

Watch the video to also discover how the voluntary code for dairy practice has led to changes at Dairy Crest – which produces Cathedral City and Clover  ̶  in the wake of the “summer of mistrust”​ last year, which culminated in farmers staging blockades and protests to get more money for their milk.

Allen also shared his views on the threat posed by imports and whether he thought retailers were playing their part to create a fairer supply chain for all, not least in the wake of his firm’s new deal to supply liquid milk to Sainsbury.

Don’t miss our full Big Interview feature with Allen in May’s edition of our sister title Food Manufacture​ ​magazine.