Dairy

The Food Chain Centre is running a programme of dairy value chain analysis to help identify improvements in supply chains and strengthen Collaboration. Our work will cover 8 different chains including fresh milk, cheese and deserts starting on the farm, through processing to final customer.

We have been supported and helped in this work by the NFU, MDC and Dairy UK.

We are also working closely with Dairy UK on their programme of Production Excellence through which Masterclasses and PROBE are being piloted.

An explanation of value chain analysis along with any case studies that have been completed can be seen by clicking on the Cutting Costs - Adding Value in Dairy folder below. The complete folder or each individual section and case study can be downloaded in pdf format from the Download section on the page. If this is your first visit to the website, you will have to fill in a simple registration form.

.: Cutting Costs - Adding Value in Dairy (folder)

The 'Cutting Costs - Adding Value in Dairy' folder was first published in June 2005 and contains an explanation of the value chain analysis programme, the methods used and case studies of each of the chains studied. New case studies will be added when further projects are completed.

information & case studies

.: Applying Lean Thinking to the Dairy Industry

A summary and conclusions of the Food Chain Centre's work in applying Lean Thinking to the UK dairy industry.

Business areas:	Collaboration	Sector:	Dairy	Region:	n/a

Case Studies

.: Impact of promotions on blue cheese - Long Clawson (Case Study)

Janice Breedon from Long Clawson Dairy wanted to understand the impact of promotions on the profitability of the blue cheese market.

Business areas:	Differentiation	Sector:	Dairy	Region:	East Midlands

.: Developing a marketing strategy for a local organic dairy - Dairy House (Case Study)

The owners of The Dairy House wanted to know what consumers liked and disliked about their yoghurt, cream and cheese products.

Business areas:	Differentiation	Sector:	Dairy	Region:	West Midlands

.: Benchmarking Through Business Clubs - Alec Raffe (Case Study)

Alec Raffe is a dairy farmer from Bradworthy, Cornwall and is an active member of the North Devon Dairy Group. Before joining the group the family business was at a cross roads following Foot and Mouth Disease.

Business areas:	Business Clubs	Sector:	Dairy	Region:	South West

.: Benchmarking Through Business Clubs - Chris Salisbury (Case Study)

Chris Salisbury is a dairy farmer near Ilminster in Somerset and is a long standing advocate of benchmarking.

Business areas:	Business Clubs	Sector:	Dairy	Region:	South West

.: Benchmarking Through Business Clubs - David and Jane Horner (Case Study)

David and Jane Homer, dairy farmers near Savernake, Wiltshire are winners of the Crown Estate Farmer of the Year Award for 2002 and enthusiasts of benchmarking. Theirs is a dedicated dairy farm comprising 280 acres and a 140 strong dairy herd.

Business areas:	Business Clubs	Sector:	Dairy	Region:	South East

.: World Class Cheese - Mary Quicke (Case Study)

Mary Quicke runs their 1,500 acre family farm, North West of Exeter. They have a 340 Holstein Friesian dairy herd, a 300 sow pig unit and 680 acres of arable crops. The farm is one of the leading producers of farmhouse cheddar in the country.

Quickes was approached by Food From Britain to take part in a trial using a business benchmarking technique called Probe (Promoting Business Excellence) to look at their cheese business.

Business areas:	Business Clubs	Sector:	Dairy	Region:	South West

.: Benchmarking Through Business Clubs - Stagrazers (Case Study)

Tim Downes and Gareth Hotchkiss are two members of the Stargrazers grassland discussion group. Tim has 145 organic Freisian dairy herd just south of Shrewsbury, and Gareth has a herd of 250 dairy cows near Church Stretton in Shropshire, and he also has a broiler unit on the farm.

Business areas:	Business Clubs	Sector:	Dairy	Region:	West Midlands

.: Developing Bowland Milk into a Successful Regional Brand (Case Study)

Since its launch in July 2002, Bowland Milk has helped increase the overall sales of liquid milk in Booths by 0.5%, gained a 10% share of Booths liquid milk sales and returned a price premium of 15-20% compared with standard milk to the farmers that supply the product.

Business areas:	Collaboration	Sector:	Dairy	Region:	North West

Press Releases

.: Food Chain Centre takes Farmers to the Dinner Table with New Consumer Guide (Press Release - 04 Jan 2006)

The Food Chain Centre is today (Wednesday 4th January) launching a unique online library of information about shoppers to help farmers. Available at www.foodchaincentre.com, it is the first time that information on how shoppers think and behave has been brought together in one place and presented specifically for farmers.

Business areas:	Differentiation	Sector:	Cereals Fresh Produce Dairy Red Meat Poultry	Region:	n/a

.: Coming Together to Cut Costs in Dairy (Press Release - 06 Sep 2005)

Teamwork across the supply chain is by far the best way for the dairy industry to cut costs and add value, according to a new report released by the Food Chain Centre.

Business areas:	Collaboration	Sector:	Dairy	Region:	n/a

.: Initiative to Encourage More Farmers to Benchmark is a Spectacular Success (Press Release - 24 Nov 2004)

A survey of over 1,200 farmers shows that the number of farmers using benchmarking has almost tripled in the space of two years.

Business areas:	Business Clubs	Sector:	Cereals Fresh Produce Dairy Red Meat Poultry	Region:	n/a

.: One Million Reasons Why Farmers Should Take Notice (Press Release - 14 Sep 2004)

The shopping behaviour of one million shoppers will be shared with farmers to help them identify new opportunities.

Business areas:	Differentiation	Sector:	Cereals Fresh Produce Dairy Red Meat Poultry	Region:	n/a

.: Food Chain Centre Awarded Half a Million Pounds for New Project to Help Dairy Industry [Also Best Practice Hub Grant awarded] (Press Release - 16 Jun 2003)

The Food Chain Centre (FCC) has been awarded a grant of £500,000 from Defra to help the English Dairy industry improve its efficiency. The FCC will work in partnership with bodies representing farmers, processors and retailers in the dairy chain including the NFU, the Milk Development Council, DIAL1 and BRC to help dairy farmers get their milk products to consumers more efficiently.

Business areas:	Business Strategy Collaboration Differentiation	Sector:	Dairy	Region:	n/a

Dairy

information & case studies

Case Studies

Press Releases

See Also