News round-up

Express and Arla dairies merger on the cards

Express Dairies and Danish dairy co-operative Arla Foods last week announced plans for a merger designed to remedy the over-capacity that has plagued the UK milk industry.

The reverse takeover bid agreed between Arla, owner of Lurpak and Anchor brands and currently Britain's fourth-largest milk supplier, and Express, the third, would leave the newly named Arla Foods UK with a 38% share of the £3b UK milk market. The nearest rivals, Dairy Crest and Robert Wisemann, control about 30% each.

Jens Bigum, group managing director of Arla, said the industry needed to see change. "In the UK dairy industry we support the view that further rationalisation is needed in order to meet a challenging future. And preferably with dairy farmers and processors getting closer," he said. "Rationalisation" would almost certainly mean cutting down on production.

However the move would leave the market dominated by only three companies, prompting fears that milk prices would climb. Competition regulators will have to approve any deal before it is put into place, as will shareholders.

Pub company agrees outsourced training deal
Pub company Innspired has named Inn-Dispensable as its training provider. The outsourced agreement claims publicans and their staff in Innspired's 1,100 English and Welsh pubs now have access to "comprehensive, high calibre training with national coverage".

Inn-Dispensable has 20 training centres across the country staffed by teams with previous industry experience. Actual training is tailored to the needs of the individual, but typically takes place in a working pub, meaning candidates can gain hands-on experience of practical skills such as beer dispensing and cellar management.

Slade to leave Morgan's after 18 months

Dermott Slade has left Swansea's Morgan's hotel after 18 months as executive head chef.

Slade, who ran former Caterer Adopted Business Dermott's in Swansea High Street, is considering several offers before announcing his next move. "I am not able to divulge any further details at present other than that I am eagerly looking forward to the year ahead," he added. He oversaw the hotel's two restaurants - its fine-dining eaterie called Dermott's but renamed Morgan's just before Christmas, and the Plimsoll Line bistro. Morgan's, the restaurant, has recently been awarded two AA rosettes, while the hotel has received a five-star rating.

A spokesman for the dockside boutique hotel said Slade had made an enormous contribution to the project and the team wished him well in his next venture. Former sous chef Sam Thomas will be taking over the running of the kitchen.

"I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at the hotel and I am proud of what we achieved as a team in a short space of time," said Slade, adding that he is currently selling the lease on his former business in Swansea's city centre.