The Welsh government and Pembrokeshire County Council have completed the sale of land to a Pembrokeshire-based company for the development of a new milk processing facility as part of a £17 million investment.
Pembrokeshire Creamery Ltd. (PCL) has acquired the new development plot at Pembrokeshire Food Park and will see the creation of 80 new jobs over the next three years as part of its operations.
PCL is set to occupy over 10ac of the park following the multi-million pound investment in the new milk processing facility, which will source milk from local family farms and have an annual processing capacity of 70 million litres, the government said today (Tuesday, February 28).
Speaking on the announcement, Economy Minister Vaughan Gething said the Welsh government is doing all it can to help create jobs for people within their own communities.
“Agriculture, food and drink are sectors that make a significant contribution to Pembrokeshire’s local economy, and we are determined to help new and existing businesses in these sectors to grow and thrive,” he said.
“We have been working closely with Pembrokeshire County Council to make land available for development at Pembrokeshire Food Park to allow us to realise that ambition.
“So, I am very pleased we have secured this significant investment, which will create 80 new jobs locally over the next three years. This will be a real boost for the regional economy.”
Food and drink
Rural Affairs Minister Lesley Griffiths said the Welsh government is proving its support for the food and drink sector by supporting the “exciting new project”.
“We are committed to supporting Welsh farmers as well as our food and drink sector and the investment in Pembrokeshire Food Park is another great example of how we are doing this,” she said.
“Today’s news will see retailers supplied with milk from local farms, bottled in Withybush, creating a long-term and sustainable supply chain for Welsh consumers.
“Pembrokeshire produces fantastic food and drink products, and I look forward to seeing this continue into the future.
Managing director of PCL, Mark McQuade, said the company was grateful to the Welsh government for its support with the investment, which will “deliver significant jobs and growth to the local economy”.
“The new site will be the only BRC (British Retail Consortium) Certified facility to offer Welsh milk that is also bottled in Wales, and as such, the Creamery will shorten the supply chain in Wales. Pembrokeshire is a fantastic milk field in which to build an authentically Welsh milk supply for Welsh supermarket stores.”
