Dairy jobs saved but not for Blaydon depot

Jun 17 2009 by William Green, The Journal

JOBS have been secured at Dairy Farmers of Britain depots – but not in the North East, it emerged last night. Dairy Farmers of Britain, which is in receivership, announced the sale of five depots, saving 172 jobs.

But, still no buyer has been found for their base in the North East, at Blaydon, which employs 500 people, directly and indirectly.

Joint receivers PricewaterhouseCoopers have sold four of the depots to The Capital Dairy Company Limited and Braeforge Limited.

The sales and have resulted in the transfer of 172 jobs to the new owners. The depots sold to the Capital Dairy Company Limited are in Newark, Skegness, Spalding, Hillsborough.

David Kelly, joint receiver and manager and director at PricewaterhouseCoopers said: “After the failure of the rescue bid for Blaydon dairy on Friday we have focused on trying to secure a future for the employees in the depots.”

Unfortunately, the receivers were unable to secure deals for the remaining depots – at Carlisle, Blaydon, South Shields, Benton, Aberdare, Leeds, Teedside, Scarborough, Team Valley, Norton, Yorkshire, Portsmouth, Shiregreen, South Teesside, Bedlington, Enfield and Nantwich.

The news comes after the Government promised it was trying to “find a way forward” following the collapse of the co-operative that has left farmers being offered just 10p a litre for milk.

Rural Affairs Minister Dan Norris spoke out after Liberal Democrat and Tory MPs from the North demanded to know what action the Government is taking over the dairy’s failure.