Arla and Starbucks share a coffee break

Yesterday, Arla Foods and Starbucks Coffee revealed that they had

joined forces to encourage more people to drink coffee at home.

They announced the launch of Starbucks Discoveries chilled coffees and Starbucks Doubleshot Espresso and Milk across the UK.

The ready-to-drink coffee ranges will go on sale in shops this month.

Arla Foods, which has its UK headquarters in Leeds, signed a licensing agreement with Starbucks earlier this year for the manufacture, distribution and marketing of Starbucks-branded premium chilled coffee drinks. They will be produced at Arla Foods' subsidiary Cocio Chokolademaelk in Denmark.

"We believe there is a real opportunity to transform the ready-to-drink coffee market with this range," said Arla's commercial director, Simon Stevens. "Until now there hasn't been a big brand to drive the category forward but we are confident that with a global brand as established and trusted as Starbucks we can achieve this."

"Starbucks Global Consumer Products business allows us to extend the 'Starbucks' Experience' to consumers beyond our coffee houses,'' said Rich DePencier, vice president, Starbucks Global Consumer Products.

"The success we have had bringing ready-to-drink coffees to consumers in North America and Asia demonstrates the global potential of the business."

Arla Foods UK is behind some of Britain's best known dairy brands, including Cravendale, Lurpak and Anchor.

It processes around 2bn litres of milk a year and works with Arla Foods Milk Partnership, a group of dairy farmers who supply 80 per cent of the company's milk.