Rodda's Creamery and Milk Link announce strategic partnership

Rodda's Creamery, the highly successful Cornish Clotted Cream manufacturer, and Milk Link, the leading farmer-owned dairy producer and processor, have announced the agreement of a long term strategic partnership. The agreement means that Milk Link will become the sole supplier of high quality Cornish milk to Rodda's Creamery with the creation of a dedicated Rodda's Producer Group formed by Milk Link Members in West Cornwall.

The new partnership reinforces the already strong relationship between Rodda's Creamery and Milk Link and provides both parties with a number of immediate business benefits in terms of greater operational and logistical efficiencies. It is believed that it will create a platform for further co-operation in the future as it begins to bring milk producers closer to the needs of the market through Rodda's Creamery added value cream sales to major retailers and food processors.

Importantly, Milk Link's dairy farmer Members in West Cornwall, will benefit both from receiving a greater return for their milk and from having the reassurance of a secure, local outlet.

Rodda's Creamery will be able to develop a closer relationship with Milk Link and its West Cornwall milk producers, working together to meet the growing demands of the processing and retailing industries. With the knowledge that there will be sufficient high quality Cornish milk available, Rodda's Creamery will have a secure foundation on which to grow the market for the Designated Product - Cornish Clotted Cream – as well as the development of other added value products.

All 122 Milk Link Members in West Cornwall will be invited to join the Rodda's Producer Group which will be based upon a new contract specifically tailored to meet the needs of Rodda's Creamery.

The new contract creates an incentive for members to produce higher butterfat and higher hygienic quality milk as well as allowing for greater rewards for milk produced according to market requirements. Key features include the removal of the butterfat collar and the payment of a Rodda 'bonus' of 0.1 pence per % of butterfat provided that the Member's milk is more than 3.7% and that they are in the top band for Bactoscan and Cell Counts. For the average Member this will be around £3,000 per year.

Commenting on the new partnership Alfred Rodda, Chairman of Rodda's Creamery said, "This is a tremendous opportunity for Rodda's to work with Milk Link and their local farmers who will produce the Cornish milk for our clotted cream. This is the start of a new era which will be of significant future benefit to all parties concerned and exceed our customers' expectations through reinforcing the provenance of our products."

Commenting on the new agreement Barry Nicholls, Milk Link Chief Executive said: "We are delighted to have agreed this long term strategic partnership with Rodda's Creamery. The agreement is a further example of how through co-operation Milk Link is securing profitable outlets for our Members milk and delivering added value to both them and our customers."