UK: Dale Farm invests in cheddar processing plant

Dale Farm, a Northern Ireland dairy cooperative, has announced an investment of £70 million ($87.5 million) to expand its cheddar processing facility in Tyrone.

The expansion will involve installing a new high-speed automated cheese slicing line, expanding the warehouse footprint, and investing in the development of new patented products and processes, the company said. It will also boost cheese production by 20,000 tonnes per year.

Commenting on the investment, Dale Farm group chief executive Nick Whelan said: “Dale Farm has built a strong reputation as a leader in cheddar production, and thanks to our reputation for quality, sustainability and consistency, we are seeing strong customer growth in the category. […] We are already exporting to 40 countries, and with this investment we want to build on that momentum and future proof our operation at Dunmanbridge for decades to come”.

“We have been granted a patent for cheddar produced at the site and are onboarding new technologies and digital transformation”, he added. “We’re also investing in sustainability and as a result of this expansion our carbon footprint will see a significant reduction, marking another important milestone on our journey towards net zero”.

The expansion is underway and is scheduled to be completed by February 2025.

Source: Dale Farm