Meadow Foods pumps £1.8M into Chester factory

The firm announced the decision alongside its annual results. The cash injection adds to the £1.2M the dairy and milk-based ingredients firm spent at the site, where its headquarters is also located, in 2014. The works are scheduled to be completed by the end of March.

The previous Chester investment enabled the construction of a new road system, truck depot, car park, office and changing and canteen facilities to cater for the growing business.

Meadow Foods also confirmed further work at its Peterborough site, where it processes and packs fresh creams, milks and cultured products for food manufacturers, would continue following a £3.1M investment there last year.

Projects would include upgrading the electrical supply, replacing existing refrigeration and upgrading the process control systems to deal with increasing demand.

Restructured​

In addition, to support the business’s continued growth, the company said it had restructured to create greater clarity and direction.

Mark Chantler has been appointed md of ingredients with overall responsibility for the company’s fat, sugar and fresh divisions.

Simon Chantler will remain as executive chairman and retain responsibility for heading the company’s milk division, which incorporates milk procurement and sales.

Meadow Foods reported a 15.6% rise in operating profit to £11.2M for the year ended March 31, 2014 on turnover of £420.7M, up 23% on the previous year.

Increasing demand​

It claimed the results illustrated the increasing demand from major food manufacturing groups for the company’s dairy ingredient products.

“The improved profits, which have grown in line with volume sales, allow us to continue to reinvest into the business in order to grow sustainably and offer stability to both our farmers and customers in a fast growing market place,”​ said Simon Chantler. 

Meadow Foods operates from factories in Chester, Peterborough and Holme-on-Spalding Moor. Its products include cream, butter, sweetened condensed milk, anhydrous milk fat, chocolate crumb and cultured products. The company, founded in 1992, now employs more than 250 people.