Farming relations

Dairy Crest is one of the UK's largest purchasers of fresh milk, buying approximately 2.4 billion litres every year, and is committed to producing food and drink to the highest standards of safety, quality and hygiene. We get our milk directly from dairy farmers as well as milk co-operatives - with 75% coming from farmer suppliers who are contracted directly to Dairy Crest.

Milking

Given the importance of British milk to our business, Dairy Crest has a dedicated team working closely with both farmers and our retail customers (which include supermarkets such as Sainsbury's, Waitrose, Morrisons and Marks & Spencer) to improve communication and understanding across the dairy supply chain.

Direct supplies

Dairy Crest buys milk from approximately 1,300 direct supplying dairy farmers, the majority of whom are located in southern and central England and South Wales. Milk from these farmers is supplied either for liquid milk consumption or for manufacture into a range of dairy products, including cheese, milk powder, butter, and cream.

The milk produced by our direct suppliers is 'farm assured', ensuring that we use only top quality milk produced to stringent standards governing food safety, animal welfare and protection of the environment.  Our direct supplying farms must comply fully with the requirements of the Assured Dairy Farm (ADF) national dairy farm assurance scheme. The ADF scheme focuses on all aspects of dairy husbandry and milk production. 

The key sections of the Scheme are:

  • Hygiene & food safety
  • Animal housing & facilities
  • Farm plant & equipment
  • Feedstuffs & water
  • Herd health
  • Stockmanship & training
  • Farm contingency procedures
  • Environmental measures.

Dairy Crest provides a subsidised support package, through the independent White Gold Service, to enable direct supplying farmers to maintain Farm Assurance standards with the minimum of disruption and cost.

Farm Assurance status is monitored by regular assessments, carried out for all direct suppliers by qualified Farm Assessors, on a 15-month basis.

New suppliers interested in supplying their milk to Dairy Crest should contact Direct Supplies on 01372 472372 (or e-mail directsupplies@dairycrest.co.uk).

DIRECT SUPPLIERS HELP DESK : 01372 472457 / 01372 472579.

Dairy Crest Direct

Dairy Crest Direct is the farmer business that represents the majority of our direct suppliers. The group was established in May 2004. Elected regional representatives operate within a Farmer Forum - to determine the direction and aims of the business. The Forum in turn elects a Management Board that is responsible for running the organisation.

The objectives of Dairy Crest Direct are:

  • To represent and inform producers;
  • To strive for a fair and secure milk price;
  • To strengthen the relationship with Dairy Crest.

Visit the Dairy Crest Direct website www.dairycrestdirect.co.uk