Sainsbury’s Launches Cheese Development Group

The SCDG will comprise up to 140 dairy farmers from Milk Link, the country’s leading farmer owned dairy co-operative and largest producer of British cheese, which supplies the majority of Sainsbury's high quality retailer brand British cheddar..

25 Sep 2009 --- In an industry-leading initiative, Sainsbury's will this week extend its highly successful Dairy Development Group programme to farmers in Devon and Cornwall who produce milk used in the production of its cheese. The newly formed Sainsbury’s Cheese Development Group (SCDG) will aim to strengthen the supermarket’s links with dairy farmers and cheese producers, spreading best practice and maximising efficiencies.

This move will make Sainsbury’s the first retailer to extend its dedicated supply chains to farmers beyond liquid milk, in the dairy sector.

The SCDG will comprise up to 140 dairy farmers from Milk Link, the country’s leading farmer owned dairy co-operative and largest producer of British cheese, which supplies the majority of Sainsbury's high quality retailer brand British cheddar..

Sainsbury’s Dairy Development Group launched in 2006 and has been widely regarded as a great success, with participating farmers benefiting from initiatives, fully funded by Sainsbury’s, designed to improve margins, lower input costs and lower their carbon footprint..

Annie Graham, Sainsbury's head of agriculture and brand sustainability, said: "We have found our development groups to be a fantastic way to bring us closer to farmers and producers and help us to work together more effectively. We have also helped members to improve profit margins and to lower their carbon footprints.

“Now, with the launch of the SCDG, Milk Link’s farmers are set to benefit in the same way. We are wholly committed to the British cheese industry and we believe that this initiative will help ensure that we continue to enjoy strong and lengthy relationships with suppliers such as Milk Link.”

Neil Kennedy, Chief Executive of Milk Link, said: “Milk Link and our farmer Members are delighted to be working with Sainsbury’s on this innovative initiative. We strongly believe that in forming stronger partnerships up and down the entire dairy chain we can deliver greater benefits to all involved and in particular help provide a more sustainable future for British dairy farmers.”

Meetings with eligible Milk Link farmers in Devon and Cornwall are currently being held, at which Sainsbury’s will explain the benefits of being part of the group. Members will then be selected on a first come first served basis. Farmers will participate in the initiatives that have benefited liquid milk farmers, which are all fully funded by Sainsbury’s.

The initiatives were generated following discussions with farmers on what would benefit their business; namely herd health & husbandry, carbon footprinting, the provision of free IT equipment and training, and the ability to supply cull cows and bull calves into Sainsbury’s beef supply chain through a bespoke scheme.

In 2007, Sainsbury’s awarded the majority of its retailer brand British cheddar supply to Milk Link. At that time, Milk Link was already supplying cheese for Basics Mild and Full Flavour cheddar, regional cheeses including Red Leicester and Double Gloucester, Cheshire and Wensleydale as well as Stilton. In addition, Milk Link supplies Sainsbury’s with 75% of its long life milk requirement.

Sainsbury’s is a leading supporter of British agriculture including the dairy sector. The supermarket recently announced that it had changed the milk used in its yoghurts to 100 per cent British. This means that 98 per cent of Sainsbury’s dairy range is made using British milk – the exceptions being products which have specific provenance requirements such as continental cheeses and Normandy butter.