Westbury Dairies announces management restructuring

The Board of Westbury Dairies Limited has today announced a management restructuring to improve operational efficiencies, reduce costs and provide a solid platform for the business going forward.

As part of the restructuring Westbury Dairies Chairman, Sir Ben Gill CBE, will step down and the operational management team at the factory will instead report directly to the Board. The new structure will allow for the integration of Westbury into the processing asset base of the three co-operative shareholders who will now take a more hands on role in the running and overall direction of the business.

The Board is now conducting a full-scale strategic review of the business, which it believes has a future given the right cost base and focus.

Commenting on the announcement, a Westbury Dairies spokesman said:

"With the changes to intervention support and wholesale milk supply profiles and volumes over the last two years, the role of Westbury has changed. Over the same period some of the co-operatives have invested in milk processing assets and this means that there are now other opportunities to integrate Westbury operations with them to leverage synergies and reduce costs.

"Sir Ben Gill was brought in on a fixed term contract at a time when the practical operation of the plant had to be stabilised and made fit for use and to provide leadership and political expertise against a background of CAP reform. That process is complete and our focus as a business must be to ensure that we operate as efficiently as possible within the market as it now stands. We would like to extend our thanks and best wishes to Sir Ben, who has provided great management to the business over the past two years and we wish him well for the future."

Sir Ben comments:

"The changes announced today I believe not only provide a more secure future for the business but importantly also for the dairy farmers who supply it. Westbury will continue to provide them with a secure outlet for their milk either as Westbury Direct Suppliers or, if they should so wish, by becoming members of one of the three co-operatives."