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Lancashire Farm Dairies to make £1m automation investment
Rochdale-based yogurt brand, Lancashire Farm Dairies, has announced a £1m automation investment which will incorporate advanced technology and robotics into its manufacturing plant.
After making its start as a small business back in 1984, Lancashire Farm Dairies has steadily grown into a multi million pound yogurt manufacturer and the third largest natural yogurt brand in the UK.
Today, the business has taken a new approach to its investments, turning its attention to advanced technology and robotics which will take the manufacturing plant in a new direction. Once installed, the robotic-based system will be automated from end-to-end, enabling Lancashire Farm Dairies to increase production of 1kg yoghurts by 25%.
Lancashire Farm Dairies is to make a £1m automation investment to increase capacity / Picture: Lancashire Farm Dairies
Known for its empathetic, free-range approach to farming, Paradise Farm in Lancashire, which is one of the farms that supplies the brand, is responsible for producing 10,000 litres of milk a day – enough to produce half a million pots of Lancashire Farm yogurts per year. With such large volumes available, the business plans to invest into more efficient systems to create yogurts.
As part of a continuing strong investment plan, this investment follows a £3.5m injection into the business back in 2018. The previous overhaul touched every aspect of the business including new tanks, new fermentation and a new CIP system for cleaning and filling lines.
Azhar Zouq, managing director at Lancashire Farm Dairies, said, “We are always looking for ways to improve the business and with some of the latest improvements, along with the introduction of new technology, we have invested in the future of the business so we can continue to grow and fulfil our ambitions.
“Lancashire Farm started as a small business and we are so pleased with the growth so far, but in order to take on major competitors, big investments in manufacturing and taking advantage of such fantastic advancements in technology will play a key part.”
Colleagues at the Rochdale-based plant can also benefit from the investments, with the new robotics system requiring operator roles to oversee the plant. This will create elevated positions for internal staff who can expect to undergo new training in the tech-heavy plant as business continues to grow.