Ehrmann Cornish Dairy names new chief executive

He will take over the running of the former Trewithen Dairy near Lostwithiel

A Cornish dairy that was acquired two years ago by a German food giant has appointed a new chief executive.

Ed Watts will take up the running of Ehrmann Cornish Dairy – the new name for the former Trewithen Dairy at Graymare Farm near Lostwithiel.

The appointment comes as the UK arm of the now German-owned business enters the next phase of its growth strategy in Britain.

Following a period of significant investment in its operations, the business has returned to profitable trading and is now focused on establishing the Ehrmann brand in the UK, expanding manufacturing capability and strengthening its position across branded and own-label dairy, the European group said.

Mr Watts has held senior commercial roles at firms including Jacobs Douwe Egberts, Johnson & Johnson, Reckitt and Mars. Most recently, he was chief commercial officer at Ehrmann Cornish Dairy, supporting the integration of Cornish Dairy Co into the wider Ehrmann business.

He will now lead the delivery of the company’s long-term turnaround and development plans, overseeing continued investment in production, innovation and operational efficiency.

The business is currently investing in a new state-of-the-art desserts facility, due for completion by the end of 2026, alongside a programme of projects expected to deliver “significant cost savings” by early next year.

“This is an incredibly exciting opportunity to lead a business with such strong foundations, exceptional people and genuine ambition,” he said.

“We’ve already made significant progress in stabilising the business, investing in our operations and building long-term partnerships with customers and farmers, and now we’re focused on accelerating that momentum.

“My vision is for Ehrmann Cornish Dairy to become recognised as one of the top three dairy companies in the UK. We have the scale, expertise and investment behind us to achieve that, and by continuing to innovate, investing in our manufacturing capabilities and delivering outstanding products for both branded and own-label customers, I’m confident we can establish ourselves as one of the defining businesses in the UK dairy sector.”

Trewithen Dairy was acquired by Ehrmann in 2024 for an undisclosed sum. Bosses at the Cornish dairy farm said at the time the deal would secure the jobs of its 260 staff.

Its former owners, Bill and Rachel Clarke, whose family had run the business since 1976, retired after the sale completed. Their son, Francis, stayed on as chief procurement officer.

Ehrmann, which is more than 100 years old, pledged to grow sales of Trewithen’s portfolio of branded and own-label Cornish dairy products.