3 minute read
McQueens opens new dairy following multi-million pound expansion
Scottish dairy company, McQueens Dairies, has opened its new 6.5 acre dairy facility in East Kilbride as part of a multi-million pound expansion plan that has seen the creation of over 100 new jobs across the business in the last 12 months.
The new, state-of-the-art dairy will see milk production capacity more than double, accommodating increased customer demand for milk delivered to the doorstep which has seen the business grow significantly in the last year. Along with the latest dairy technology, including new refrigeration plant and pasteurising equipment, new filler lines and a significantly enhanced glass bottling line have been installed.
The family business, which specialises in doorstep milk deliveries, was founded in 1995 by company chairman Mick McQueen and his wife Meg and now operates distribution depots in Scotland and north of England.
Since March 2020, when the national coronavirus lockdown was introduced, the business has grown by almost 30% as new customers have sought out safe and reliable food delivery services. In addition to milk products, the company also delivers orange juice, apple juice and free-range eggs to the doorstep.
McQueens Dairies has opened its new dairy in East Kilbride following a multi-million pound investment / Picture: McQueens Dairies
Mick McQueen, chairman of McQueens Dairies, said: “Investing in a new, large dairy is at the heart of the business’s growth plans. Our production capacity has now more than doubled which allows us to confidently meet increasing customer demand and to continue to invest in other parts of the business like our distribution depot network, our fleet, and of course in our staff.
“Our doorstep milk delivery business was growing significantly before the coronavirus pandemic hit the country but we have witnessed significantly faster growth as people demanded safer and reliable food delivery services. Doorstep deliveries were already our core service so we were perfectly placed to respond quickly, efficiently and safely.
“We have seen a clear change in consumer buying habits in recent months and we are confident that demand for safe and reliable doorstep deliveries will continue. We have recently opened a new depot in Stockton on Tees which is already employing 25 staff delivering to doorsteps in County Durham and we’re looking at other new locations for additional distribution depots across Scotland and the north of England to meet demand, and to recruit more milkmen and milkwomen to work across the whole of our distribution network.
“It is also very pleasing to be able to buy more raw milk from First Milk, a dairy farmer owned co-operative that has been supplying us for many years, and if the business maintains its growth levels, as we expect it to, we will be buying even more – helping support family farming businesses.”
Production capacity has more than doubled following the investment and over 100 new jobs have been created in the last 12 months / Picture: McQueens Dairies
Fraser Brown, commercial director of First Milk, added: “It is great to see McQueens Dairies opening its new production facility in East Kilbride and continuing its ambitious expansion. We have been supplying McQueens with fresh raw milk direct from our dairy farmer members for many years. Our farmers are committed to sustainable dairy production and we look forward to continuing to work with McQueens in the future to help them bring great tasting dairy to their customers across Scotland and the North of England.”
McQueens Dairies has distribution depots in Glasgow, East Kilbride, Edinburgh, Kirkcaldy, Galashiels, Mansfield, Huddersfield, Warrington, Preston, Stockton on Tees and Carlisle.
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