Farms See Wild Orchids Thrive

HEREFORD, England, August 12, 2010 - An array of wild orchid species and a diversity of birds and other
wildlife are thriving under a pioneering retailer scheme operating on some of
the country's leading dairy farm enterprises.

The Waitrose WildCare initiative operates on the 60 farms supplying
Waitrose essential milk. Together they boast land managed for wildlife
equivalent to an area 18 times that of Hyde Park - on a 'per farm basis'
that's over double the national farm average.

"Wild orchids have been identified on farms across Dorset, Oxfordshire,
Wiltshire and Somerset," says Waitrose WildCare manager Tim Oliver. "They are
'delicate' species with a complex lifecycle making them poorly equipped to
cope within some working farm environments. This has led to a massive decline
in orchid numbers since the 1940s," he says.

"Yet with more land managed for the benefit of wild flora and fauna, the
scheme's latest figures prove that nature conservation and serious commercial
dairy farming can go hand in hand," he adds.

Tim explains that while the national farm average for land devoted to
natural habitats is estimated at 5-10%, the Waitrose WildCare scheme demands
a minimum of 10%. "But our latest figures show farms in our scheme average
25%, with some farms as high as 30%. Meanwhile, the farms are efficiently
producing over 100 million litres of milk per year."

Robbie James, Waitrose's Buying Manager for Dairy, explains that the
farms are professional operations adopting the latest farm management
practices and rigorous animal welfare standards to achieve the high quality
milk production that Waitrose demands. The price premium Waitrose pays its
producers helps to facilitate the improved nature conservation on the farms.

And with the Hardy Orchid Society, RSPB and the Barn Owl Trust lending
their support to the scheme there is an abundance of advice and information
available to the Waitrose WildCare farmers.

Notes to editors:

1. WildCare (www.wildcare.co.uk)

WildCare is part of AB Sustain which is a trading division of AB Agri Ltd
(Associated British Agriculture), the Agriculture Group of Associated British
Foods plc. AB Sustain specialises in developing and delivering sustainable
supply chain solutions from farm to processor. (www.absustain.com)

2. Waitrose Dairy Farmers (www.waitrose.co.uk)

WildCare works with Waitrose Dairy Farmers, to encourage farming
practices that benefit wildlife.

The Waitrose Dairy Farmers group, launched in 1999 (originally
called the Select Farm Milk Group), now includes 60 farms - producing high
quality milk, through efficient, ethical and sustainable farming practices.
Waitrose has consistently paid one of the market's highest prices for milk.
By paying a premium, Waitrose enables its dairy farmers to meet costs, make a
profit and reinvest in their dairies. The Waitrose Dairy Farmers Milk Scheme
reflects the long-term commitment Waitrose has with Dairy Crest and this
forward-thinking group of dairy farmers.

The group's milk is sold under the essential Waitrose brand.

Orchid photos available on request.

Media contact: Catherine Linch, Pinstone Communications.
Tel: +44-(0)1568-617622 / +44-(0)7850-802799 / catherine at pinstone.co.uk