Just one day after competitor Arla announced plans to close its processing plant at Ashby de la Zouch in Leicester, fresh milk processing giant Müller Wiseman Dairies announced it will be closing down depots at Keith and Whitburn, in Scotland, threatening 139 jobs at the two sites.  

Full closure of the sites expected before the end of the year. The processor said its decision had been "prompted by significant reductions in the number of delivery runs from each site." 23 jobs are expected to be lost at Keith and 116 at Whitburn, though Müller Wiseman said 81 new jobs would be created through transferring distribution activities to depots in Aberdeen and Cambuslang.

The company said in a statement on Thursday, "Where opportunities exist, Müller Wiseman Dairies will ensure that posts are offered to colleagues from Keith and Whitburn who wish to transfer, with initial incentives put in place to compensate for extra travel to work costs."

Carl Ravenhall, Managing Director at Müller Wiseman Dairies said, "Employees, management and unions worked extremely hard to find ways of addressing the challenges facing these depots, but we have been unable to establish an economic basis for continuing to distribute milk from Keith or Whitburn.

"We very much regret the impact that this decision will have on these areas but we have to adapt to changes in the way that fresh milk is being distributed."