A Cornish dairy has had a very impressive 2019, seeing profits and turnover soar.
Trewithen Dairy, the family-run producer of high quality Cornish dairy products, saw its profit operating profit increased to £2,313,324 from £489,194 in 2018.
The business, based in Lostwithiel, has seen a growth in sales of products such as Cornish clotted cream, butter and yoghurts which has helped boost their position.
The company's turnover increased by 34.6% to £55,280,551 (2018 - £41,060,847) during the financial year.
The growth was driven in part by the business benefiting from the full year effect of two major long term retail milk contracts won towards the end of the prior year which, combined with ongoing growth from existing customers, reinforced the business’s position as a supplier of choice for fresh liquid milk in the South West.
The increase in turnover reflected the effective utilisation of the enhanced processing capacity and capabilities of its well-invested dairy, growth in sales of added value products and the ongoing success of the ‘Trewithen Dairy’ brand which is now worth some £15.3 million at a wholesale level.
Importantly, it also continued to invest for the future, implementing a range of investments and initiatives in line with its long term strategic growth plan.
These included enhancing further its processing capacity and capabilities, recruiting more local dairy farmers to grow its supply of high quality Cornish milk and continuing to invest in its people, processes and added value product offer.
On the results, Bill Clarke, Chairman of Trewithen Dairy said: “During the year, the business performed satisfactorily, strengthening at a financial, commercial & operational level.
"While at the same time, we undertook a number of strategic investments & initiatives which we believe will play an important role in underpinning the future growth and development of Trewithen Dairy.”
At an operational level, the business invested a further £2.5 million to strengthen the business’s operational capacity and capabilities, including a 1000 sq. metre expansion of the dairy’s warehouse & cold store facilities and additional chilled loading docks which have further improved production and distribution flexibility and productivity.
Founded in 1994, Trewithen is a family business, owned by Bill and Rachel Clarke together with their sons, Francis and George.
Today, Trewithen Dairy is a leading processor of fresh milk in the South West of England, the second largest producer of Clotted Cream in the UK and also produces a growing range of great tasting pouring creams, Cornish Butter, yoghurts and buttermilk. It employs over 230 people at its modern, well invested dairy processing facility and is one of the leading dairy and food manufacturers in Cornwall.
