FDBusiness.com

Wensleydale Creamery, home of the famous Yorkshire Wensleydale cheese, is investing in new equipment to increase production capacity following a £17.9 million deal with HSBC UK. The English dairy business plans to increase production to significantly grow sales, which will help to secure local employment opportunities and ensure a sustainable future for the local farms supplying the Creamery too.

The deal, along with securement of an EU productivity grant of approximately £800,000 will enable the Creamery to help modernise its cheese-making facilities, with the purchase of new vats, working tables and cheese-making and curd-handling equipment, helping improve efficiency and improve the working environment for its cheese-makers. A new cheese smoking plant, along with water recycling and increased milk storage capacity are also being planned.

In addition, almost £1 million of HSBC UK’s funding will go towards a cheese blending and waxing facility, allowing the business to blend cheese more efficiently with a state-of-the-art production line.

By-products from the cheese-making process at the Creamery are being taken to Iona Capital’s bio-gas plant in Leeming, North Yorkshire, where it is converted into electricity to produce around 10,000 MWh of thermal power, which is enough energy to heat approximately 800 homes.

David Hartley, Managing Director of Wensleydale Cheese, comments: “The support from HSBC UK will allow us to increase and improve production across the Creamery. By investing in new, modern equipment, we can improve our efficiency as well as improve process control with technical excellence. It puts us in a strong position to grow the business and meet customer demand for our brand and products. HSBC UK provided sound guidance and showed enthusiasm for our growth plans.”

Gordon Forster, Area Director, HSBC UK, says: “HSBC UK is a huge supporter of rural British business and Wensleydale Creamery is a much-loved British food brand, crucial to the economic well-being of the deeply rural area in which it is situated, and we’re delighted to help with its growth plans. David and his team have shown great commitment and strategic thinking behind their plans for sustainable growth and we wish them every success moving forward.”

Sally Bowen, Financial Director of Wensleydale Creamery, was advised by Stuart Henry, Relationship Director at HSBC UK.

The Wensleydale Creamery produces 4,000 tonnes of cheese a year at its Creamery in Hawes, North Yorkshire. It employs a workforce of 230 and supplies some of the biggest retailers in the UK. The dairy business currently exports its cheeses around the world and is particularly popular in North America, Middle East and Europe. Its Visitor Centre also attracts 350,000 visitors each year.