Arla Foods breaks ground on £179 million mozzarella plant in Devon

Arla Foods, the UK’s largest dairy cooperative, has officially begun construction on its new £179 million mozzarella production facility at Taw Valley Creamery in North Tawton, marking one of the most significant investments in the company’s UK history.

The ambitious project, first announced in 2024, aims to transform the Taw Valley site with state-of-the-art dairy technology capable of producing mozzarella cheese for export markets around the world, including the foodservice and pizza sectors. Production is expected to begin by 2027.

The investment is set to generate more than 100 skilled jobs, injecting a substantial boost to the local economy. Roles will include a variety of technical, operational, and support positions, with a strong emphasis on training and apprenticeships.

“We’re incredibly proud to see work begin on our state-of-the-art mozzarella plant,” said Fran Ball, Vice President of Production at Arla Foods UK. “This project is not only about expanding our capabilities in cheese production, it’s also about investing in people. We are actively exploring apprenticeship opportunities that would allow us to train and upskill individuals ahead of the plant’s operational launch.”

The move forms part of Arla’s wider commitment to expanding its UK and global operations. The news comes shortly after the dairy giant reported record global investments exceeding €1 billion in 2024, and unveiled plans for an additional £90 million investment at its Lockerbie site in Scotland, reinforcing the company’s confidence in the future of British dairy.

Bas Padberg, Managing Director of Arla Foods UK, added: “This investment at Taw Valley is a clear demonstration of our support for British dairy and our farmer-owners. Arla is already a global leader in mozzarella production, and this development will allow us to enhance our export offering while continuing to return the best possible price for our farmers’ milk.”

Founded in 2000 through the merger of Swedish and Danish dairy cooperatives, Arla Foods is a farmer-owned business with over 2,000 British dairy farmers among its co-op members. The company supplies a wide range of dairy products under brands such as Lurpak, Anchor, Cravendale, and Arla.

The Taw Valley Creamery, located in North Tawton, has been a cornerstone of Devon’s dairy heritage for decades and is known for producing award-winning cheeses. The addition of mozzarella production will further elevate its profile as a key hub in Arla’s global supply chain.

For more information about careers and apprenticeship opportunities at Arla, visit arlafoods.co.uk