Arla to close fresh milk plant in the UK

Dairy Cooperative Arla Foods has announced that it will close its fresh milk plant in Hatfield Peverel, Essex,  by July 2016, slashing up to 230 jobs, including 137 members of the IUF affiliate Unite the Union.

Arla, the largest dairy company operating in the UK, plans to move most of the production to the giant Aylesbury site which was opened in 2014.

The closure is accompanied by a plan to outsource 32 drivers to Bidvest Logistics. Unite will enter discussions with the company in an attempt to save jobs and prevent outsourcing.