Arla Foods UK Appoints Matthew Walker to Lead Foodservice Division Following Double-Digit Growth

Dairy cooperative Arla Foods has announced a strategic bolstering of its United Kingdom leadership team, appointing Matthew Walker to lead its Foodservice division.

Effective from January 2026, Walker takes the helm of one of Arla’s most critical strategic growth areas outside of retail. The appointment is designed to accelerate momentum in a channel that has recently delivered significant financial returns for the cooperative.

Financial Momentum and Strategic Focus

The Foodservice division, which operates under the Arla® Pro brand supplying milk, butter, and cheese to the hospitality sector, has emerged as a key performance driver.

In the first half of 2025, the division reported robust metrics:

Revenue Growth: An increase of 15% year-on-year (equating to £24m or €29m).
Volume Growth: Strategic branded volume-driven revenue increased by 7.6%.

Arla aims to leverage this growth by building on its existing customer portfolio and forming new strategic partnerships centred on sustainability and innovation.

Executive Profile: Internal Succession

Walker’s appointment represents a significant internal promotion. Having been with Arla since 2011, he brings 14 years of experience across commercial, brand, and customer-facing roles within the organisation.

He transitions to the UK leadership team from his most recent position as Head of Marketing for Arla Sweden. During his four-year tenure in Sweden, Walker played a pivotal role in strengthening the Arla® brand and driving category growth in that market.

Operational Outlook

Walker highlighted specific operational milestones on the horizon, including a major capital project: “Foodservice is one of the most dynamic and fast-moving parts of our industry. We have a lot of exciting innovations and milestones in the near future... Whether this is the new mozzarella investment at our Taw Valley site, or the continued innovations across our well-known brands, I am excited about helping to create the future for British Dairy.”

Bas Padberg, Managing Director of Arla Foods UK, commented on the strategic fit:

“Matthew’s appointment is a great step forward for our UK business and we’re excited to welcome him to the team. His deep understanding of Arla, combined with his strong commercial experience and passion for building relationships, will be key as we continue to grow our Foodservice presence, deliver value for our partners and provide quality dairy to the hospitality and catering sector.”