The latest investment at the dairy will see the creation of a second, new production hall, containing two new high-speed fillers, taking the number of its filling lines to seven. In addition to increasing processing capacity, the company said the lines would allow greater flexibility to produce a wider range of innovative flavoured and functional milks, using new production techniques and packaging formats.
Having invested £14m since the management buy-out of the business in 2013, Crediton Dairy said it had made significant progress in building its capabilities to produce a wide range of branded milk drinks. These included its branded Arctic iced coffee range, Moo flavoured milks and innovative functional milks such as Flora Pro Activ, Lactose-free milk and most recently a2 milk, as a result of a supply partnership with the a2 Milk Company.
Work starts in March
Work on building a new production hall is scheduled to start in March and it is expected to be completed by the autumn.
“This latest investment at the dairy is fully in line with our strategy of becoming a leader in the fast-growing flavoured and functional milk drinks segments of the market," said Crediton Dairy managing director Tim Smiddy. "The new production hall will increase our processing capacity, capability and flexibility and will allow us to develop further an exciting range of innovative branded and own-label products that meets growing consumer demand.”
Crediton Dairy produces fresh flavoured and functional chilled milk drinks, iced coffee drinks and long-life milks and creams. Independently owned, it supplies products to more than 13,500 food retail stores across the UK and numerous overseas markets.