Arla Foods Commences £179m Mozzarella Plant Project in Devon

Dairy giant Arla Foods has initiated the construction of its £179m mozzarella plant in Devon, which is expected to create more than 100 jobs. This significant investment, announced last year, aims to enable the cooperative to produce mozzarella in the county from as early as 2027.

The Taw Valley Creamery will undergo updates to include cutting-edge technology, facilitating the business in exporting mozzarella for global pizza toppings. More than 100 additional skilled jobs will be created, with the company recruiting for various roles, including apprenticeships.

In 2024, Arla globally invested over €1 billion and proposed an additional £90m investment at its Lockerbie site to bolster UK manufacturing and secure the future of British dairy.

"We're incredibly proud to see work has begun on our state-of-the-art mozzarella plant in the UK," stated Fran Ball, VP of production in the UK, highlighting the potential for industry recruitment through a new apprenticeship scheme. Bas Padberg, managing director of Arla Foods UK, emphasized the investment's importance in supporting the future of British dairy and ensuring competitive milk prices for farmer owners.