Dairy firm eyes ‘fierce amount’ of NPD

Speaking exclusively to Food Manufacture​, Robert Graham, managing director of the Scottish milk producer said the focus would be on “naturally functional”​ products. It would cover areas including gut health as well as protein and low sugar requirements, he said.

NPD​

“We’ve done a lot of NPD in the last year and a half particularly. Without exception they ​[products] have all performed extremely well. ​

“Seeing that and seeing how well aligned dairy is to consumer trends…we are working hard to be agile and quick to market with innovative great dairy products.” ​

Graham would not reveal the details of the NPD but added the business had invested £6m on capital expenditure in the last financial year and had “somewhere north of £3m”​ for 2019-2020, before adding that some of that figure had already been spent. In December 2018, the Scottish dairy reported a strong increase in its year-on-year sales, driven by new products added to its range. 

In its full year results to March 2018, it reported that turnover rose £4.1m to £104.1m representing a 4% rise compared with 2017.

Skyr​

The launch of Graham’s Skyr, a cultured dairy product native to Iceland achieved multiple Scottish and UK listings, while its protein 40 milk, which is of 100% Jersey origin and contains only 1% fat and 40g of protein was listed in Sainsbury’s in 2018.

Earlier this month (May 2018), Graham’s announced it had entered into a new two-year partnership with CJ Lang in Scotland which will provide local communities with fresh Scottish milk across 300 Spar stores.

In February, the independent dairy also signed a five-year partnership with discount retailer Aldi to supply 85 stores across Scotland, in a deal worth approximately £55m over the next five years.