Müller Skelmersdale site development to put 90 jobs at risk

Up to 90 jobs may be at risk of redundancy as part of Müller UK & Ireland’s Skelmersdale site development, the dairy has said.

Müller has outlined the next phase of the £45m site upgrade in West Lancashire, which will see the recruitment of up to 90 new roles but may also put an additional 90 at risk of redundancy.

Müller has proposed moving fresh milk and cream production from Skelmersdale to alternative locations within its existing UK network.

There will be a collective consultation on this decision to assess future operational requirements.

“Change is never easy, and consultations can be unsettling,” said Rob Hutchison, CEO of Müller Milk & Ingredients. “We take this process seriously and will carefully consider every option before making decisions.”

The dairy added that the final outcome will not be determined until the process has been completed and that it will be looking for potential opportunities of skill redeployment across the site and Müller network.

There will also be vacancies at the site ranging from drivers and driver trainers to vehicle technicians and logistics support roles, it said.

“We’re investing in a flagship facility that will set new standards for milk drying, dairy ingredients products and logistics, creating a bright future for Müller Skelmersdale,” said Hutchison. “Our investment will lead to better service and quality for our customers at home and abroad, and new opportunities for local people.”

Also in the update, Müller confirmed plans to build an in-house logistics hub for the site which is designed to accommodate up to 65 milk collection vehicles.

The hub will support with the collection of raw milk daily from supplying farms.

“We’re confident in the plans underway and the future developments we’re working on at Müller Skelmersdale – initiatives that will strengthen our position and deliver benefits across the entire dairy supply chain,” added Hutchison.

“We are creating long-term and highly-skilled local job opportunities and putting Skelmersdale firmly on the map as a key player in the UK dairy industry.”