Nestlé’s factory in Dalston, Cumbria, has hosted the latest event of the Next Generation Dairy Leaders Programme.
Seven young First Milk farmers supplying to Nestlé’s factories in Dalston, Cumbria and Girvan, Scotland visited the company’s Dalston site, home to Nescafé Café Menu products, such as cappuccino and latte.
They toured the factory to learn about Nestlé supply chain and how the quality of their milk impacts Nescafé Café Menu production performance in what was the second event held under the programme.
The farmers took part in a number of activities, including an interactive demand planning game to help improve their knowledge of the dairy industry and give them a greater understanding of the dairy supply chain from field to consumer.
'Eye opening experience'
George Brown, 25 year old farmer from Cumbria said of the programme: "It has been fantastic learning about the larger supply chain and what goes on ‘beyond the farm gate’.
"Now, more than ever, it is too easy to get bogged down in day to day activities with the cows, so to be shown the wider industry and how we fit in with a global company like Nestlé has been, and will continue to be, an eye opening experience."
Jennifer Galloway, 28 year old farmer from Girvan in Scotland added: "It was very interesting to see where our milk goes and how some of the country’s most famous products are made using our milk.
"My experience at Nestlé has made me look at the dairy industry in a different way and I look forward to learning even more as part of the programme."
Nestlé and First Milk launched the Next Generation Dairy Leaders Programme in February 2016, a scheme for young farmers that aims to identify, nurture and develop the next generation of dairy leaders.
The programme forms part of Nestlé’s long-term partnership with First Milk to improve the sustainability of their farms and develop a more sustainable and efficient supply chain with a reduced environmental impact.
The Nestlé First Milk Partnership comprises 106 farmers in Cumbria, Ayrshire and Wigtownshire providing high quality fresh milk used in the manufacture of brands, such as Nescafé Café Menu and KitKat.
140 million litres of milk goes into producing Nestlé UK confectionery and Nescafé products every year. This constitutes 1% of the UK’s total milk volume and 8% of Scotland’s.
