First Milk (co-operative)

First Milk Limited
Company typeCo-operative
IndustryDairy
PredecessorsScottish Milk Ltd and Axis Milk Ltd
Founded2001 (2001)
Headquarters,
Scotland
Area served
United Kingdom
Key people
    • Chris Thomas (Chairperson)
    • Shelagh Hanock (Chief Executive)
ProductsDairy products
Revenue£570m (2025)
Members699 (2025)
Number of employees
466 (2025)
Websitefirstmilk.co.uk
Footnotes / references
2025 Annual Return

First Milk Limited is a British dairy co-operative which manufactures cheese, specialist dairy ingredients and whey proteins for its customers, as well as providing traceable fresh milk to a range of dairy manufacturers and food processors. As a dairy co-operative, owned and run by farmers; the area covered by its milk pool runs from the Mull of Kintyre in Scotland down through England and Wales.

The co-operative operates the largest regenerative farming programme in the UK dairy industry in a commitment to building the sustainability of British dairy and taking a holistic approach to food production. First Milk was awarded B Corp certification in 2022, as well as being awarded the King's Enterprise Award for Sustainable Development in recognition of its contribution and commitment to sustainable practices.