The sale of Glenfield Dairy, which produces cottage cheese, quark and sour cream, will allow First Milk to focus on its hard cheese and liquid milk businesses.
Scottish family business Graham’s will add the dairy’s products to its range when it takes over the site in Fife on Wednesday (December 2).
The sale would protect employment at the dairy site and its contribution to the broader Scottish dairy sector, according to First Milk ceo Mike Gallacher.
Focus on ‘core businesses’
“It will allow us to focus even more closely on our core businesses in hard cheese and liquid brokering,” he said.
“This is already starting to drive improvement with the business moving into a positive operating profit at mid-year, consistent with the phasing of our turnaround plan.”
Graham’s dairy products include milk, butter, cream, cheddar cheese, low fat yogurt and luxury ice cream.
‘Extend product range’
Graham’s md Robert Graham said: “This is an exciting acquisition for us as it allows us to extend our product range for customers and consumers even further, with the addition of cottage cheese and quark.
“In addition, this deal presents great potential to explore further new product development going forward.”
He added: “We’re delighted to be expanding the business on home turf and will continue to be mindful of future growth opportunities.”
On Wednesday (November 25) First Milk announced that operating profit hit more than £1M in the six months to September 30, compared with a £7.6M loss in the same period last year.
The dairy cooperative’s debt has dropped from more than £60M in March 2015 to £46M at the end of September.
Graham’s the Family Dairy – at a glance
- Founded in 1939 by the current md’s grandfather Robert Graham
- Over half the Scottish population buy its products according to
- More than 6,000 customers including retailers, hotels and restaurants
Source: Kantar Worldpanel research and Graham’s the Family Dairy