Guernsey Dairy will soon be going out to tender to replace its milk packing system.
This area was highlighted as a priority for upgrading during a condition assessment last year.
The Dairy was told that there was insufficient workspace within the current milk packing area to accommodate industry standard machinery and associated equipment.
Both the milk packing and downline handling equipment therefore need upgrading to ensure the continued safe operation of the current Dairy, it said.
Yesterday’s announcement that the milk packing system is being replaced coincided with news that the Dairy has stopped production of all its cheeses.
The last lot rolled off the production line before Christmas, and the Dairy said all orders will be fulfilled while stocks last. It expects the island’s shops to have sold out of all types of the cheeses by the end of the year.
Guernsey Dairy Operations Director Andrew Tabel said the Dairy had to focus on its core objectives, in particular, as the sole supplier of Guernsey milk to satisfy local demand, and that ceasing cheese production will free up the space for other “essential operations”.
“Guernsey Dairy has a special position in the local community, as the supplier of fresh dairy products that help sustain the island’s rural environment, farming economy and the Guernsey Cattle Breed,” he said.
“We need to repurpose space within the physical constraints of the existing Dairy to accommodate a new milk packing unit and all the peripheral equipment, without interrupting the processing and supply of fresh liquid milk.
“The strategic decision to cease cheese production will facilitate this.”
A shortlist of suppliers for the new milk packing system are expected to be invited to submit formal tenders in the next few weeks.
The new equipment is intended to meet the industry standard that was specified in the assessment carried out last year.
The Committee for the Environment and Infrastructure said that would help restore the sector’s economic stability which has been affected by price rises and outside influences in recent years.
The States backed the idea and approved the financial support earlier this month.
The dairy farmers have been given money in similar circumstances previously, as the wider debate continues over the work needed at the dairy itself to bring it up to modern day standards.
Past proposals have included moving it elsewhere or privatising it and allowing the dairy farmers themselves to run it.
Despite being below industry standard, the dairy currently holds a four star hygiene rating meaning it was assessed as being ‘very good’ or ‘generally satisfactory’ in all categories inspected a year ago.
Five years ago it only had two stars but a £200,000 investment in equipment and maintenance saw its rating improve.
