Cornwall-based Trewithen Dairy has been acquired by German yogurt maker Ehrmann

Trewithen Dairy in Cornwall has been acquired by a historic, family-run German company for an undisclosed sum. Dairy giant Ehrmann, which has been selling its products in the UK for two years, said the deal would open up local production in the UK.

The deal will see Ehrmann invest £20m in the Cornish dairy and expand the Trewithen facilities, including building a new factory on site in the Glynn Valley. The factory, due to open in 2026, will produce Ehrmann products such as High Protein and Grand Dessert using British milk.

Ehrmann, which is over 100 years old, is also committed to increasing sales of Trewithen’s portfolio of branded and own-label Cornish dairy products.

Christian Ehrmann, Chairman of Ehrmann SE, said: “The acquisition is very significant as it opens up local production in the UK; allowing us to reduce our carbon footprint and guarantee the freshness of our products. By choosing Trewithen’s high quality dairy, we are delighted to bring German product innovation with the best of British dairy.”

The acquisition of Trewithen by Ehrmann will bring together the management teams of both family businesses. Trewithen Dairy, at Greymare Farm in the Glynn Valley, has been owned by the Clarke family since 1976. Dairy farmers switched to dairying there in 1994, sourcing milk, cream and more recently butter and yoghurt from local cows to sell. over the UK.

“We are incredibly proud of our roots in quality pasture and cows that produce some of the best milk in the world,” said Francis Clarke, owner of Trewithen Dairy. “Quality and sustainable growth are core values ​​that we deeply share with our new colleagues at Ehrmann. That’s why we’ve decided to join forces to breathe fresh air into the Cornish dairy industry as we enter our next phase of expansion.”

The 260 people currently working at Trewithen Dairy will remain in place following the deal, with Ehrmann planning to create more roles as he expands the business.

Paul Berne, chief executive of Trewithen Dairy, added: “We are delighted to be able to expand our offering, create more jobs in the local economy and continue to bring the joy of quality Cornish produce to more taste buds across the Britain. The new products are already proven in other markets, so it’s great to produce them with great British milk to be enjoyed by more British taste buds.”

From 2022, Ehrmann sells a range of products in the UK through Aldi, Morrisons, Iceland and COOP supermarkets. The company said as it expands its UK-made range, it will increase distribution of its products in the UK.

Do you like this story? Why not REGISTER to get the latest South West business news straight to your inbox.