Daily Post Business Awards 2017

South Caernarfon Creameries is pleased to have been shortlisted for the Business of the Year award at the Daily Post Business Awards 2017.

These prestigious business awards celebrate and highlight success stories from the North Wales business community. South Caernarfon Creameries successfully demonstrated outstanding business performance as well as giving evidence of a strong financial position, excellent business achievements and stand out initiatives.

The application verified the success the creamery has had and key highlights being:

Investments

In early 2015 SCC embarked on a major £12 million capital investment programme that included the construction of the first purpose-built cheese production facility in the UK since the early 1970’s. The facility was opened officially by HRH The Prince of Wales in July 2016. As a result of this investment production capacity increased by a third. The company also completely redeveloped its cheese packing plant in order to deliver new retailer national contracts. This investment has ensured that SCC has one of the most efficient and flexible cheese production and packing plants in the UK.

A further £1 million investment has been committed in 2017 for cheese grating equipment which will improve flexible packing formats.

Sales & Profitability

Sales volume for the year significantly increased brought about by the efficiencies of the new investments and the success in gaining high margin quality customers.

Commercial Strategy

Due to global market volatility, several years ago SCC made a strategic decision to move out of commodity traded cheese and to align its products to specific added value customer contracts. This commercial strategy has been successful and attributed to the major investment made in production and packing facilities and major new supply contracts with both Sainsbury’s and Lidl. SCC already supplies many of the key retailers in Wales due to the strength of its Dragon Cheese & Butter Brand.

Employment

The new contracts gained by major retailers has led to the creation of 30 new full-time jobs with an estimated contribution of an additional £750k per annum to the local economy.

Awards

During the year the creamery has been recognised with many product quality awards that include accolades at, amongst others, World Cheese Awards, Global Cheese Awards and International Cheese Awards. The Creamery was also recognised at many industry awards:

• Winner of Made in Wales Food & Drink Award 2016
• Winner of Food Today Industry Awards – Best Dairy Product 2016
• Winner The Food Awards Wales – Dairy Food Provider of the Year 2017

Winners will be announced at a ceremony on 30^th November at Bangor University who are joint headline sponsors of the awards with the Welsh Government. As well as attending the ceremony and being shortlisted, South Caernarfon Creameries is sponsoring the cheese course at dinner. Guests will be able to sample Dragon Welsh Slate Cavern Aged Cheddar and Dragon Vintage Cheddar with Leeks. The farmer-owned co-operative has also donated a hamper for the raffle, with proceeds to local charity Ty Gobaith.