The site will continue to play a central role in producing powdered milk products made in Britain using milk sourced from British farms Müller UK & Ireland has outlined the…

The site will continue to play a central role in producing powdered milk products made in Britain using milk sourced from British farms

Müller UK & Ireland has outlined the next phase of a major transformation programme at its Skelmersdale site in West Lancashire, reinforcing its long-term commitment to British dairy production and export growth.

The dairy company is making significant investments to expand the site’s capacity and capabilities, positioning Skelmersdale as a flagship facility for milk drying and dairy ingredients. The site will continue to play a central role in producing powdered milk products made in Britain using milk sourced from British farms, supporting both domestic and international markets.

As part of the transformation, Müller has confirmed plans to develop a new in-house logistics hub at the Skelmersdale site. The purpose-built hub will be designed to accommodate up to 65 milk collection vehicles and will support the daily collection of raw milk from supplying farms, strengthening efficiency and supply chain resilience.

To support the expanded logistics operation, Müller plans to recruit up to 90 new roles at the site. The new positions will span a range of functions, including drivers, driver trainers, vehicle technicians and logistics support roles, creating new employment opportunities for the local community.

Alongside the investment, Müller is proposing to relocate fresh milk and cream production from Skelmersdale to other locations within its existing UK network, following ongoing collaboration with its long-term retail partners. A collective consultation process has been launched to assess future operational requirements at the site.

Under the proposals, Skelmersdale would become a centre of excellence for milk balancing, further strengthening its role in securing supply chain stability across the wider dairy industry. While up to 90 roles could be at risk of redundancy, Müller said the outcome will not be known until the consultation concludes, and opportunities for redeployment across the wider business will be explored.

Rob Hutchison, CEO of Müller Milk & Ingredients, said the investment would “set new standards for milk drying, dairy ingredients products and logistics,” adding that the plans would create long-term, highly skilled jobs and cement Skelmersdale’s position as a key player in the UK dairy industry.