I’m udderly proud of our family business
FRAN LOVES WORKING ON HER FAMILY FARM, FROM WHERE SHE PROVIDES TOP-QUALITY MILK TO LIDL
IF there’s one thing Fran knows, it’s dairy cows. Now 33, she grew up on her family’s dairy farm in Cambridgeshire and has been around these magnificent animals all her life.
Fran’s cows are her No 1 priority, because she knows that the better they are looked after, the better-quality milk they will produce for Lidl’s customers. And it’s thanks to her hard work, commitment and the fair prices paid by Lidl that the milk which travels from the farm to the store’s shelves is top-quality.
“As a forward-thinking dairy farmer it’s great to work with Lidl – a young and forwardthinking business,” says Fran. “Our joint push for efficiency and quality helps ensure the sustainability of the industry and closes the gap between producer and consumer.”
Fran was always encouraged to play a part in the family farm, and it was her dad, Mike, who really drew her into the dairy farming lifestyle.
“He helped teach me to drive a tractor,” she recalls. “One day when I was 16 a staff member dropped out of a harvest job and my dad appeared saying, ‘You’re up’. I spent the rest of the summer helping out with the grain harvest on a tractor.”
But Fran’s favourite part of her job is spending time with her precious cows: “I prefer being with them and managing that side of the business than sitting on a tractor.”
But dairy farming isn’t an
A few pence extra per litre has a huge impact on our bottom line
easy business, so it is more important than ever that British farmers such as Fran are supported by the supermarkets they supply.
And it’s Lidl’s thoughtful supplier relationship that is game-changing for Fran and her business.
“We produce over two million litres of milk a year, so a few pence extra on every litre makes a huge difference to our bottom line,” she explains. “The price needs to be right for everyone: farmer, wider supply chain and customer.”
What’s more, the long-term fixed price Lidl pays provides Fran with the stability she needs to manage her business.
For Fran, taking pride in what she does is very important. “It really helps me get the best out of my business, my staff and, most importantly my cows,” she explains.
But simplicity is key, and Fran knows the quality of her work and products beat the push for quantity every time.
And that’s why she likes shopping at Lidl. She understands that the products it sells are on the shelves because they are top quality.
Along with Lidl’s dedication to supporting young farmers, that’s just one of the many reasons why the company has won a host of awards, including Supermarket of the Year 2020, Most Sustainable Retailer of the year (for the second year running), Fresh Produce Retailer of the Year (for the third year running) and, for five years running, the Marine Stewardship Council’s (MSC) Mid-size Store Retailer of the Year.