Meadow Foods tucks in to profits hike

MEADOW Foods, the independent dairy group, has reported a rise of sale and profits in the last financial year.

Recently filed accounts by the Cheshire-based company show a 6.5% rise in sales in the year to the end of March to £263m.

Profits in the same time-frame rose from £4.1m to £5.5m.

Meadow is headquartered at its creamery in Chester and has production sites at Holme-upon-Spalding Moor in Yorkshire and Peterborough.

Executive chairman Simon Chantler,  said: “We made significant progress during the year. Nene Valley Foods in Peterborough, which we acquired from Dairy Farmers of Britain in May 2009, was successfully integrated into the group and we created a fresh products division which supplies packed creams, milks and cultured products to our growing customer base.

“This new division complements our existing packed cream business, which has been transferred from our factory in Holme-upon-Spalding Moor to Nene Valley.

“Our strategy is to continue to grow our diverse interests in the dairy sector through organic growth and selective acquisitions. The group is structured to enable us to expand whilst focusing on increased efficiencies and cost control across the business.”

Meadow Foods employs more than 250 people across its business.