Dairy giant Muller plans to expand butter plant

Since it was officially opened in 2013 Muller Wiseman Dairies' state-of-the-art processing plant in Market Drayton has been churning out block butter for the food ingredient and manufacturing sectors.

It then entered the consumer market with the launched of its first 250g packs of butter for the food service and retail convenience sectors in 2015.

Now it is hoping to expand the £17 million butter plant in Market Drayton.

A planning document submitted on behalf of Muller states: "The town's economy remains reliant on food processing and Muller is one of town's two main employers.

"The proposed works are minor in the context of the existing building and wider site. It would be to create two new dispatch areas and associated alterations to existing road layout.

"In terms of access articulated lorries collecting butter from the new plant will enter the site through the existing southern gate, to the north of the butter plant building, and drive beyond the butter plant building to turn around, come alongside the building before backing up to the new loading dock for loading.

"The proposed works do not have any additional impact on residential and local amenity than the permitted extant scheme."

"The proposed works are minor in the context of the existing building and wider facility.

"Nevertheless, the development is appropriate in its setting and safeguard local and residential amenity."

Muller has not released any details about whether the plans will create new jobs.

Market Drayton Town Council has voted to support the planning application.

David Minnery, mayor of Market Drayton, said: "I think that any business expansion is good for the town, but I am particularly pleased that Muller appears to see their future as remaining here in Market Drayton.

"I am sensitive to the debate about milk prices, but it is surely better that they are here and securing jobs, and better that they remain here."

The company has invested extensively in Shropshire in recent years, taking over Nom's dairy in Telford, opening a desserts manufacturing site at the former Uniq site in Minsterley, and opening the butter plant beside its headquarters in Market Drayton.

Recently it announced the price it will pay farmers for milk from November will increase by 1.5p per litre to 20.94ppl. In addition, Muller's non-aligned dairy farmers will benefit from a valuable retailer supplement, estimated to be an additional 2ppl from next month.