Belton Farm invests £1.7m in cheese packing facility

Part of Belton Farms longer-term capital investment programme into future proofing the business, the new facility will provide the business with greater opportunity to adopt new pack sizes and formats and bring its cheese making, maturing and cutting and packing operations all under one roof. 

“In doing so, it will provide a strong base from which to grow further Belton Farm’s position as a leading supplier of branded classic and contemporary speciality British cheese to both UK and overseas customers,”​ said a spokesman from the business.  

Cheese making centenary  ​

The development of the new packing and cutting facility comes as Belton Farm celebrates its cheese making centenary.  

Justin Beckett, managing director of Belton Farm, said: “The completion of our new cheese cutting and packing facility here at Belton Farm is an integral part of our plan to grow and develop our ​speciality cheese business.​ ​

“The new facility has been purpose built to enhance further our ability to provide the highest levels of product care and customer service, deliver greater efficiencies and operational flexibility and allow us to offer innovative new pack sizes and formats.  ​

Growing cheese customers  ​

“In doing so, we are confident that will be able to meet the current and future needs of our growing number of speciality cheese customers both in the UK and increasingly overseas.” ​

The completion of the new facility also saw activity undertaken by Belton Packing & Logistics at its Wrexham site moved to Belton Farm, with all staff moved to the new facility. Belton Farm’s existing cheese packing partners will continue to handle the majority of its cheese packing requirements.  

Meanwhile, ingredients supplier Macphie has completed a £4m factory refit of its Tannochside facility​​ to support its expansion into the frozen ice cream and dessert market. 

More than 40 jobs have been created following the investment of the 25,000  sq ft North Lanarkshire facility which was stripped back to the bricks before the refit and layout change.