Arla Foods has introduced an innovative solution to address dairy poverty in the UK.
- The first-ever free milk ATM has been launched in collaboration with Fareshare in North London.
- This initiative aims to provide accessible and nutritious dairy products to communities.
- Arla pledges to install 100 refrigerated ‘Milk Banks’ at various charities.
- Partnerships with Fareshare and Aldi bolster the campaign’s reach and impact.
Arla Foods, in a pioneering move, has launched the United Kingdom’s first free milk ATM in a collaborative effort with Fareshare. This initiative, set in North London, serves to raise awareness and combat dairy poverty by providing unlimited access to milk at the push of a button. ‘The Milk Bank ATM’ is a testament to Arla’s commitment to making dairy products more accessible, displayed prominently with text indicating ‘free milk withdrawal’.
Further strengthening their mission, Arla has committed to establishing fully-sponsored and stocked refrigerated ‘Milk Banks’ across various charities throughout the nation. This pledge includes equipping 100 FareShare charities with the necessary infrastructure to store fresh dairy safely, thus preventing charities from turning away such donations due to storage inadequacies.
As stated by Arla’s senior vice president, Jonathan Dixon, the driving force behind this initiative is to enhance the accessibility of nutritious dairy products across the UK. Dixon emphasises the issue many charities face, as they often have to decline dairy donations due to insufficient storage capabilities. However, through this partnership with FareShare, there is optimism that such challenges can be alleviated.
Ben Ashmore, head of external affairs at Fareshare, corroborates the increasing demand for nutritious dairy products among charities. The generous donation of fridges by Arla allows many organisations within Fareshare’s network to offer a broader range of nutritious food, thereby diversifying the resources available to those in need.
Complementing this dairy accessibility drive, Arla has engaged in a noteworthy partnership with Aldi. This alliance entails an investment of over £30 million into Arla’s dairy farmers over the next three and a half years, highlighting the concerted efforts being made to support both the supply and demand sides of the dairy equation.
The free milk ATM initiative underscores a significant stride towards increased dairy accessibility and community support.
