Trewithen Dairy acquired by German multinational Ehrmann

Two family-owned dairy businesses have joined forces, with the acquisition of Cornwall’s Trewithen Dairy by German-owned multinational Ehrmann.

The deal paves the way for a £20 million investment in expanding Trewithen’s Glynn Valley facilities. A new state-of-the-art production plant, expected to open in 2026, will produce Ehrmann’s full UK range of desserts, creating more job opportunities and increasing demand for Cornish milk.

Owned and run by the Ehrmann family since 1920, Ehrmann’s dairy products are sold in more than 75 countries around the world, with seven international production sites and annual sales totalling 1.1 billion euros.

A team at PKF Francis Clark provided a range of sell-side support to Trewithen Dairy’s owners during the cross-border transaction process.

Tom Slade, associate director – transaction services at PKF Francis Clark, said: “Trewithen Dairy is a well-known brand in the region and a longstanding client of PKF Francis Clark. We’re delighted to have helped the Clarke family to complete this landmark deal, which will lead to further significant investment in Cornwall’s dairy industry. We look forward to seeing Trewithen continue to grow and thrive as part of the Ehrmann group.”

PKF Francis Clark’s team comprised Damian Lannon, Kate Culley, Tom Slade, Tom Hicks, Matt Willmott and Nick Woodmansey.

Francis Clarke, owner of Trewithen Dairy, 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.”

CEO Paul Berne added: “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.”

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.”