Proposals to significantly restructure the dairy business could result in the loss of up to 90 jobs at Muller’s Skelmersdale factory, even as Muller moves ahead with plans to expand other parts of its business.
The changes are part of a wider review of operations at the West Lancashire facility, and Muller UK & Ireland said it was driven by increased global demand for dairy products over the next decade.
The company plans to invest in expanding production of milk drying and dairy ingredients, but has also confirmed proposals to move raw milk and cream processing from Skelmersdale to other sites within its UK network.
As a result, dairy processors have initiated collective consultations with field staff to assess future operational requirements.
Up to 90 roles could be at risk of redundancies under the proposals, but the final outcome will not be known until the consultation process is completed.
At the same time, the company has outlined plans to build a new internal logistics hub in Skelmersdale to support the collection of raw milk from supply farms.
The hub is designed to accommodate up to 65 milk collection vehicles and accommodate daily milk movements, increasing the volume of milk passing through the site.
Müller also said it plans to hire up to 90 new positions related to logistics operations, including drivers, driver trainers, vehicle technicians and logistics support staff.
The company said the proposal would see Skelmersdale repositioned as a specialist center focused on milk rebalancing, a role that would help support supply chain resilience across the company’s extensive dairy network.
Mr Muller said he would explore opportunities to redeploy skills to the Skelmersdale site or elsewhere within the business where possible.
The company said it is committed to listening to employees before making decisions and will engage in consultation in an open and constructive manner.
“We are investing in a flagship facility that will set new standards in milk drying, dairy ingredient products and logistics,” said Rob Hutchison, CEO of Muller Milk & English.
He acknowledged the uncertainty caused by the proposals, adding: “Changes are never easy and consultations can be unsettling. We take this process seriously and will carefully consider all options before making a decision.”
Farmer representatives have yet to respond publicly to the proposals, which could impact how milk is processed and moved within Muller’s UK supply chain.
Discussions are ongoing and the final impact on jobs, operations and future milk handling at Skelmersdale is not yet clear.
