Glass half full for dairy firm despite sour taste in sector

● Graham’s flags growth plans such as global expansion ● Comes after drag from ‘instability’ in global milk market

Bridge of Allan-based Graham’s The Family Dairy said it is optimistic about the year ahead, including product launches and further growth abroad in the pipeline, despite seeing a year-on-year dip in sales and profit in its latest annual results.

However, the family-owned farming business said the falls came in an extremely difficult environment for the global dairy industry, weighed down by oversupply that resulted in “significant balancing costs for Graham’s and deflation in the market”.

For the year to March, sales fell to £83.6 million from £86.5m in the prior 12 months, with the firm mainly attributing the drop to deflation “despite volume wins during this period”, while profit dipped to £1.43m from £1.5m.

The business noted progress in the period including investment of £1.4m in plant and machinery, and striking two “significant” partnerships in 2015.

In February, the firm became exclusive milk and whipping cream supplier to all 68 Starbucks stores across Scotland, and the following month signed a seven-figure deal with major Scottish food supplier Brakes Scotland to provide milk, butter, cream, cheese, yogurt, cottage cheese and crème fraîche to all its customers north of the Border.

Graham’s, which can trace its roots back to 1939, also bought Glenfield Dairy in Fife from First Milk during the reporting period, with the purchase enabling it to grow its product range to include quark, cottage cheese and sour cream.

It also said the milk market has shown green shoots of recovery in the second part of 2016, and the business has raised its price to farmers in recent months.

Managing director Robert Graham said the firm “delivered a solid performance during what has been an incredibly challenging time for the entire dairy industry”.

He said: “As farmers ourselves who continue to milk our own cows, we understand the pressures farmers face and this is why we continue to pay them the highest price in Scotland. We truly value the relationships we have with our 100 farming partners and are committed to continuing an open and regular dialogue to the benefit of all of our businesses going forward.

“At Graham’s we never stand still, we’re always innovating and have exciting plans for future growth, including new product development, ambitious plans to develop a new dairy processing plant in Stirling, and further expansion of the brand overseas.”