UFU Dairy Policy Chairman William Cromie states; “This investment indicates a shift towards a higher added-value market and a less reliance upon commodity markets which could ultimately lessen volatility. This parallels our ‘Roadmap to Recovery’ and our aim to achieve innovation, strong marketing and restructuring in the local dairy processing industry.

Mr Cromie adds; “The investment will provide a positive injection into the Northern Ireland economy, in particular dairy farming and we commend Invest NI for its £4m contribution which is, to date, the highest amount of support ever offered by the development agency to the dairy sector.”

The investment is also the largest undertaken by a local dairy processor and will benefit the group's three processing plants at Dunmanbridge, Pennybridge and Cullybackey. Funds will be dispersed between all plants, focusing on activity such as increasing cheese and whey processing, liquid milk processing and improving the competitiveness of the company’s butter and dairy spreads processing and packing operation at Cullybackey.

Mr Cromie concluded; “We must congratulate Dale Farm on recently winning the coveted title of ‘Best in Category’ at the World Cheese Awards for their Extra Mature Cheese, which in itself is further proof that Northern Ireland’s dairy sector is proving its international value.”