Job hopes up as town firm clinches deal

New jobs could be created in Market Drayton after one of the town's main employers landed a major national contract.

However, bosses were tight-lipped over the exact number of jobs.

Culina Logstics, based on the same site as the town's Muller dairy, has struck a deal to become the core contractor for Milk Link - a nationwide dairy firm with sites in Oswestry, Devon, Wales and Scotland.

Kirsty Anderson, Culina Logistics spokeswoman, said recruitment was ongoing at the Market Drayton site over the next 12 months, but she had no details of how many jobs could be on the cards in north Shropshire.

She said: "We have an ongoing recruitment programme and we will be working closely with Milk Link to establish the right team to ensure that their needs are exceeded with every delivery."

Last week Milk Link announced it had ended its transport contract with two hauliers - Pentons of Oswestry and NR Evans of Hampshire.

It followed an extensive review and tender of Milk Link's third party chilled requirements, covering cheese, butter and milk.

Milk Link's new chilled logistics arrangements to be undertaken by Culina will be phased in over the next 12 months.

Seven job losses at Milk Link's Cheese Company packing plant in Oswestry were announced when the new deal was unveiled last week.

Mark Robertson, Milk Link Operations Director said: "These changes will simplify our logistics arrangements."