Aldermore backs Dairylink in milk expansion plans

A STAFFORDSHIRE-based milk buyer and distributor is hoping to expand its business after securing finance through a newly-rebranded financial lender.

Dairylink, which was founded last year by Barbara Griffiths, helps small, local distributors retain contracts with local education authorities to supply milk to schools.

The £500,000 turnover business is using funding from the Midlands branch of Aldermore Invoice Finance – a lender born out of Cattles Invoice Finance – to improve its cashflow.

It will enable it to work with more educational authorities to source milk from local processors and distributors.

Dairylink already provides milk for school children via around 200 schools in Northumberland and West Wales and now plans to expand further.

Ms Griffiths said: “The loss of free school milk for the under-fives would have been catastrophic for thousands of pre-school children, many of whom, due to social circumstance, rely on the milk they’re given at nursery and in reception for their daily calcium intake.

“So the rejection of the proposals by the Coalition Government was welcome news.

“Aldermore Invoice Finance has been incredibly supportive to my business, which has enabled us to continue working on essential projects.

“I am looking to expand into a £2.5m turnover business over the next five years as we tender more contracts with local authorities across England and Wales.”

James Cresswell, regional sales manager at Aldermore Invoice Finance based in Birmingham, added: “Dairylink is thriving in a dairy sector increasingly dominated by the big supermarkets.

“Their success demonstrates what can be achieved by a determined entrepreneur with the right support.”