First Milk: A Pioneering Cooperative in the UK Dairy Industry

First Milk, headquartered in Glasgow, Scotland, stands out as a significant player in the UK dairy industry. This cooperative is renowned for its commitment to sustainable practices and innovative farming solutions.

Financial Indicators

First Milk employs a dynamic pricing strategy to navigate market challenges. Recently, the cooperative set its milk prices at 34.72 pence per litre for standard milk and 35.85 pence for manufacturing milk. Planned adjustments will see changes to 35.85 pence per litre in December and further to 30.25 pence per litre by February 2026. Additionally, from July 2026, the manufacturing milk price will increase by 0.6 pence per litre, reaching 31.35 pence per litre, inclusive of the member premium.

Important Events

Under the leadership of CEO Shelagh Hancock, First Milk has achieved several milestones, including acquiring BV Dairy, achieving Certified B Corporation status, receiving the King’s Award for Sustainable Development, and winning 12 medals at the British and Irish Cheese Awards. The cooperative has collaborated with Agricarbon on regenerative dairy farming and participated in the Gulfood 2026 event. Additionally, Robert Craig was appointed as an additional farmer director to enhance producer representation.

Company Plans

Looking forward, First Milk is investing in sustainable farming and innovative solutions to enhance product value and environmental sustainability. It is actively involved in the Dairy Roadmap Coalition to promote environmental progress and works with 21 dairy farmers to improve soil health and groundwater capture. Through the WHEY2BUILD initiative, it aims to transform whey waste into low-carbon building materials. The cooperative's regenerative approach focuses on environmental stewardship, including hedgerow care, rotational grazing, and increased plant diversity.

First Milk is investing £16.8 million to upgrade its Lake District Creamery, marking its largest single capital investment to enhance production capacity and operational efficiency. The cooperative is committed to producing high-quality cheddar cheese and dairy ingredients, maintaining a strategic whey protein partnership with Arla Foods Ingredients. It has partnered with Nestlé to reduce carbon emissions by switching to Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) fuel for milk transportation, aiming for all milk transport and processing to use renewable fuels by 2030.

First Milk has initiated a new strategy focusing on water quality across its 700 member farms, combining nutrient footprinting with satellite mapping to address water quality risks effectively. The cooperative is also actively involved in leadership development within the industry, as evidenced by the launch of the Young Dairy Leaders program in partnership with Nestlé. A sophisticated nutrient footprinting system has been introduced on 700 farms in collaboration with the Farm Carbon Toolkit, including satellite-led risk mapping by Senus.

Modified: 2026/06/19