Alvis Brothers Ltd, which trades as Lyle Cross Farms, is expanding its processing capacity in a bid to grow the business in the UK and overseas.
The company said it has increased production by 1,000 tonnes a year to 4,500 tonnes. The investment includes upgrades to its milking facility, added a new packing line and expanded its ability to pack 20-40g mini cheese portions. The expanded facility will enable the group to double packing capacity from 80,000 units to 160,000 a day, Lyle Cross Farms said.
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Lyle Cross produces organic cheddar and UK territorial cheeses, together with conventional west country farmhouse Cheddar and territorial farmhouse cheeses under the Lye Cross Farm Brands. In the UK, the group supplies Asda, Sainsbury’s, Aldi and Ocado.
Around 25% of its GBP25m (US$41m) annual turnover came from overseas markets last year and the group sells UK cheeses into South Korea, the US, Dubai, South Africa, Saudi Arabia and a number of European countries.
Commenting on the investment, MD Peter Alvis said the group planned to grow sales in the UK and overseas, including the possibility of opening new markets.
“The investments we have made will have tangible benefits to the business and will enable us to sell more produce both at home and overseas. Our aim to grow both turnover and profitability over the next 18 months, and of course opening up new international markets will be key to that,” he said.
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By GlobalDataThe investment in upgrading production facilities was supported by a loan from HSBC.
