Grahams The Family Dairy acquires Claymore Dairies
Grahams The Family Dairy, Scotlands leading independent dairy company has today (22 September) announced it has agreed to buy Claymore Dairies, one of Nairns largest private employers for an undisclosed sum. Situated on the main thoroughfare between Inverness and Aberdeen, Claymore Dairies is a modern purpose built processing and distribution dairy that was opened by Princess Ann.
This is Grahams 25th acquisition in recent years and will take the company through its 50m turnover.
The Graham family have historical roots in the area which they were keen to re-establish. Grahams chairman Dr Robert Graham is the son on the original founder. Dr Roberts mother was from Caithness which is where the family spent most of their childhood holidays.
The area has a strong dairy farming heritage and as farmers themselves the Grahams were determined to maintain a farming presence. They will now work with a number of dairy farmers located throughout the Highlands and will invest time in establishing themselves within the community.
Bridge of Allan-based, Grahams The Family Dairy, managing director Robert Graham said: Claymore Dairies is a good business with excellent processing facilities. The dairy and its employees will become an immediate part of the Grahams family business and will bring our team to over 400.
Its fantastic to return to some old family roots and my father has been passionately involved during this process. This will be Grahams most northerly location and will give us not only more capacity but additional flexibility to our customer offering. We will bring more than 70 years experience to the community and hope our investment will help the business flourish again.
Grahams has always taken a long term view with business planning. As farmers ourselves, its been crucial to support the farmers we work with throughout Scotland to protect their businesses while they support ours. We look forward to establishing new working friendships with those in the Highlands.
Ian Larg, managing director of Claymore Dairies, added: Since the buyout, we have had several meetings with the Grahams. During that period, it has become increasingly clear that there would be significant benefits by putting the businesses together. Grahams diversity and greater market position will be a major benefit to Claymore going forward. This will lead to greater security for the dairy, its staff and supplying dairy farmers.
When we did the buyout, our aim was to preserve as many jobs as possible and keep the dairy in production. Collectively with our staff, we have successfully expanded the business. We now look forward to working together in the future as part of the Grahams team at this exciting next stage of development for the enlarged business.”
Grahams prides itself with its award-winning product lines and continual innovation. Its product range now extends to branded and own-label organic and conventional milk, butters, creams, Grahams Gold Jersey products as well as vanilla and flavoured ice-cream.
Since launching organic milk in 2005, Grahams organic skimmed, semi-skimmed and whole milk portfolio has grown to be worth more than 4m to the business and account for 15 per cent of all milk sales by Grahams The Family Dairy. Grahams proudly launched the UKs first 1% fat organic milk earlier this year, which is available across the UK via Sainsburys, in response to their discerning consumers growing appetite for its organic portfolio.
Its luxurious and indulgent, creamy range of Jersey products, Grahams Gold was the first Grahams branded dairy product in its 71 year history to be distributed south of the border and can be now be found nationally through Sainsburys stores.
Grahams also produces a range of delicious dairy, organic and Jersey vanilla and family favourite flavoured ice creams which are available through Scottish Sainsburys, Tesco and Asda stores. Grahams Gold vanilla ice cream was voted best in category at the 2009 Royal Highland Show and the vanilla ice-cream range was named by Sainsburys as its Best Product Launch in Frozen Category.
The dairy is currently undertaking a major investment programme for expanding its butter plant in Bridge of Allan and will be launching new product lines during 2011. Its butter range most recently scooped an unprecedented five gold accolades at this years Royal Highland Show, including overall championship butter for Grahams slightly salted.
Grahams now supplies ASDA, Tesco, Sainsburys, Somerfield, Waitrose and Lidl with a number of products. Sainsburys remains Grahams largest customer, including the provision to supply all of the supermarkets own-label organic milk and Scottish cream.
- The Grahams have farmed in the Stirling area for five generations with the current dairy business being founded in 1939
- At its inception, daily output amounted to 400 pints. The company now produces more than 360,000 pints a day and employs 340 staff
- The dairy has won a number of prestigious awards for its milk, cream, butter and ice-cream products. This includes its Grahams Gold range being named Marketing Initiative of the Year and for Best Dairy, Confectionary & Snacking Product at the 2009 Scotland Food and Drink Excellence Awards.
- In 2009, Grahams Gold ice-cream was named best in category at the Royal Highland Show. Sainsburys also named Grahams ice-cream as its Frozen Food Launch of the Year.