One of Cornwall’s biggest dairies has been taken over by a leading German dairy firm.

Ehrmann has announced today it is to open a UK production plant following the acquisition of Trewithen Dairy in Cornwall.

Ehrmann pudding products will be produced at the facility to be distributed across the UK, and are expected to account for 15% of Ehrmann’s global sales each year.

To do this, Ehrmann will expand Trewithen’s facilities in the Glynn Valley, with the new production plant expected to open in 2026.

With a guiding principle of ‘from the family, for the family’, The Cornish dairy plant will start producing the full range of Ehrmann dessert products, such as ‘High Protein’ and ‘Grand Dessert’.

Ehrmann dairy products are sold in more than 75 countries around the world, from seven international production sites and nine international sales offices, generating more than 1.1 billion euros each year.

In the UK its products have been sold at Aldi, Morrisons and Iceland since 2022, and more recently Co-op as well.

The company said that in addition to its long term commitment to grow sales of Trewithen’s existing branded and own-label Cornish dairy products, it would be making a “significant” £20 million investment in the dairy’s processing capacity and capabilities.

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Christian Ehrmann, chairman of Ehrmann SE, said: “Ehrmann has enjoyed success in the UK over the last two years working with major supermarket chains to bring new dairy tastes to consumers.

“The acquisition is highly significant as it opens up local UK production, enabling us to reduce the carbon footprint and guarantee the freshness of our products.

“Choosing Trewithen’s impressively high-quality Cornish milk production, we’re delighted to bring German product innovation together with the very best of British milk.”

Trewithen Dairy is the trading name of Cornish Farm Dairy Ltd. The UK business will continue to be known as Trewithen Dairy, while its registered name will change from Cornish Farm Dairy Ltd to Ehrmann Cornish Dairy Ltd.

Both firms are said to be long established, family-run companies.

Trewithen Dairy, at Greymare Farm in the Glynn Valley, has been owned by the Clarke family since 1976. The dairy farmers switched to crafting dairy products there in 1994, sourcing milk, cream and, more recently, butter and yoghurt from local cows to sell across the UK.

Francis Clarke said: “We’re incredibly proud of our roots in quality pastures and cows that produce some of the best milk in the world.

“Quality and sustainable growth are core values we share deeply with our new colleagues at Ehrmann. That’s why we decided to join forces to breathe fresh air into the Cornish dairy industry as we enter our next phase of expansion.”

Bill and Francis Clarke of Trewithen Dairy on It Runs In The Family podcast in 2022

The companies said the acquisition will secure the jobs of more than 260 people currently working at Trewithen Dairy, and moving forward, will lead to the creation of many new skilled roles.

They went on to add that the expansion of the production plant would give dairy farmers in the region a “major, stable purchaser for Cornwall’s milk supply, paying a competitive milk price based upon a guaranteed premium.”

Paul Berne, CEO of Trewithen Dairy, said: “We’re delighted that we’re able to expand our offering, create more jobs in the local economy, and further bring the joy of quality Cornish produce to more tastebuds across the UK.

“The new products are already proven in other markets, so it’s great to be producing them with excellent British milk to be enjoyed by more British tastebuds.”