Scottish dairy firm secures Morrisons contract
The Scottish firm told FoodManufacture.co.uk it expected awareness of the brand to grow extensively once its products started to be stocked from March 2015.
Graham’s The Family Dairy md, Robert Graham, said: “Graham’s The Family Dairy works in partnership with more than 90 farmers so our extended relationship with Morrisons guarantees that more consumers have access to milk and butter products from Scotland.”
No new jobs or production facilities
However, the contract would not lead to immediate job creation or investment in production for the Stirlingshire-based firm, which employs 500 staff, it said.
Almost half of the households in Scotland now bought the firm’s products, Graham claimed.
“These new listings reinforce our commitment, and ability, to supply the highest quality Scottish produce and builds on our established relationship with Morrisons,” he added.
Morrisons will stock six of Graham’s milk and butter products, including its Scottish salted and unsalted block butter as well as its 2l whole milk, semi-skimmed milk and skimmed milk.
The firm’s Gold Top Jersey milk will also be stocked in 500 Morrisons’ stores nationwide.
The listing came after Scotland’s cabinet secretary for rural affairs and food Richard Lochhead urged more retailers to stock and promote Scotland’s dairy products.
Kantar Worldpanel recently ranked Graham’s The Family Dairy seventh in a list of the most popular take-home food and non-alcoholic drink brands.
David Gardner, Morrisons’ Scottish md, said: “We believe Graham’s Dairy can provide a great alternative offer to our Scottish customers.
“With the Scottish dairy industry facing challenging times, this is great news for the sector and reaffirms our support for Scottish food and drink.”
New £20M dairy
Meanwhile, the firm was planning to build a £20M dairy in a bid to enable a “significant step change” that would benefit the Stirling economy and secure the long-term future of the dairy industry in Scotland, it said.
The new dairy is subject to the outcome of its Airthrey Green development proposals currently sitting with Stirling Council but could bring 450 new jobs over and above any construction related employment. It would also include up to 50 apprenticeships to bring local, young people into employment.
The facility would house a research and development centre to allow Graham’s to continually develop and grow its brand through new products and meet the needs of its customers, the firm said.
