Chester-based Meadow Foods, the UK’s largest independent dairy, has posted annual pre-tax profits of £13.7m, a like-for-like rise of almost 25%.
The increase comes despite a hit to milk prices affecting sales, with turnover down £44m to £376m.
Founded in 1992, Meadow Foods processes more than 500 million litres of farm-assured milk per year. It also processes butters, creams, soft cheeses, cultured and sweetened products, which are manufactured in the three factories.
With its network of farmers, the firm supplies more than 100,000 tonnes of high quality bulk dairy products to large and small scale manufacturers operating in sectors such as prepared foods, bakery, confectionery and ice cream.