Cheshire dairy scoops farm business of the year award

Delamere Dairy, the UK's speciality dairy, has been named 'Farm Business of the Year' at the Farm Business Food & Farming Industry Awards.

The top accolade was scooped by the Cheshire based company at an awards ceremony to recognise champions in the UK farming industry, held at the House of Commons on Friday 9th December.

The company was founded over 25 years ago by Liz & Roger Sutton in Delamere Forest in the heart of Cheshire where they first milked goats.

Today, Delamere Dairy's specialist dairy products made from goats' milk, soya and cows' milk, together with their innovative TopLife branded pet treats made from goats' milk are sold by retailers nationally and increasingly to export markets.

Sponsor Genus and the judging panel commented: "Delamere is today an outstanding example of a food chain business capitalising on a niche market.

"It has adapted from a small goat farming business to the development of a strong brand with a diverse range of product innovations and some highly impactful packaging, selling to local multiples and in overseas markets.

"Delamere was the outstanding entrant in this year's Farm Business of the Year Award".

Delamere Dairy has developed long term relationships with all the UK multiple retailers over the years. It has adopted a continuous improvement approach to cost savings, critical in the current market, with pressure on margins and has a clear strategy for the future.

Delamere Dairy's turnover is now in excess of £15M and the company, which is based in Knutsford (Cheshire), is run by a team of sixteen members of staff led by a board of Director Owners – Liz & Roger Sutton and Ed Salt. The company has also recently opened a Hong Kong office to explore business opportunities in the Far East markets.

Picture shows Rob Holliday of Genus plc, Liz Sutton, Ed Salt and Roger Sutton of Delamere Dairy and Adam Henson