Nestlé Girvan welcomed Elaine Stewart MP, Labour Member of Parliament for Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock, to the factory on Friday 22 November.
The visit marked the MP’s first trip to the site since her election in July 2024, and it presented a valuable opportunity for her to learn more about Nestlé's operations and contributions to the local community.
During her visit, Ms Stewart met with Fraser Haldane, Factory Operations Manager, and representatives from the Factory Leadership and the Public Affairs teams. The Nestlé team introduced her to the company's initiatives and the significant role that the Girvan factory plays in the local economy emphasising their dedication to supporting the region.
The MP also heard about Nestlé's cocoa and milk sourcing initiatives, highlighting the company's commitment to sustainable practices and its work with dairy farmers in her constituency, who supply the factory with high-quality fresh milk.
Following the introductory discussions, Ms Stewart was guided around the factory to see first-hand how the milk is used in the production of milk chocolate crumb, a key ingredient in many of Nestlé's beloved confectionery products.
Fraser Haldane, Factory Operations Manager at Nestlé Girvan, said: "We are delighted to have welcomed Elaine Stewart MP to our Girvan factory. This visit is a fantastic opportunity for us to showcase our commitment to quality, sustainability, and community engagement. We look forward to sharing our initiatives and the positive impact we have in the local area."
Elaine Stewart MP, said: “It’s great to be visiting Nestlé Girvan today to learn more about the work this global food company does in my constituency, and to meet some of the team who create a key part of some of the nation’s favourite confectionery products. Milk sourced from farms in my constituency and across Ayrshire goes into KitKat, Yorkie and Quality Street made in the UK and I look forward to enjoying some this festive season.”
Nestlé Girvan employs 46 full-time employees, almost 90% of whom live within a five-mile radius of the site. Since 2020 Nestlé has invested around £1.3m into the factory. Around 20,000 tonnes of milk chocolate crumb are manufactured in Girvan each year that go into Nestlé confectionery products including KitKat, Aero and Quality Street.
Through Nestlé’s Milk Plan and its partnership with First Milk, a British farmer owned dairy co-operative, 41 farms supply milk to Nestlé Girvan.
The farmers receive a ’sustainability bonus’ for taking practical measures that protect and enhance natural assets on their land. This includes optimising soil and fertiliser use to offset carbon in the supply chain and increasing the biodiversity of farmland. Nestlé has been working with First Milk since 2003, and the partnership is designed to improve yields, improve animal welfare, and enhance and protect the local environment.