'Creation of Agriculture Director at Müller a positive step'

Today's announcement of a new Agriculture Director at Müller is a positive move and a major step forward in developing strong producer-processor relationships, the NFU said today.

The position has been created as part of a new leadership team at Müller, once its acquisition of Dairy Crest’s dairy operations concludes, and is the first of a number of announcements expected over the next month.

Lyndsay Chapman, Dairy Crest's current Director of ?Agriculture and Farm Communications will take on the Agriculture Director role, with Andrew McInnes promoted to Managing Director.

NFU dairy board chairman Rob Harrison said: “This is a positive announcement by Müller Wiseman bringing together the expertise within both Dairy Crest and Müller.

“I’m really pleased that they have seen the importance of creating an Agriculture Director. Having worked with Lyndsay over recent years in her capacity as Agriculture Director at Dairy Crest, I’m glad that the NFU can continue that relationship. While at Dairy Crest Lyndsay has worked closely with the dairy producer organisation Dairy Crest Direct and I’m hopeful that can help develop strong producer –processor relationships within the new structure.

“In the meantime the NFU will continue to liaise with both Dairy Crest and Müller Wiseman in the run up to the takeover being completed at the end of December, and we will arrange a meeting with the new team early in the New Year.”