Wyke Farms aims to grow cheese exports with expanded UK site

British cheese maker Wyke Farms has been granted planning permission to rebuild and double the capacity of its Bruton dairy facility in Somerset.

The redevelopment is part of the company’s five-year plan for growth, which is underpinned by increasing volume and launching new products targeted for export.

Wyke Farms, which makes a range of cheddar cheeses, said the new 16,589-square-metre facility will be both energy and water efficient and sympathetic to the surrounding environment, with soft landscaping and a natural grass roof.  

It added that the investment will create a sustainable long-term future and build sufficient infrastructure for servicing increased sales.

Richard Clothier, Wyke Farms managing director, said: “Our strategy of selling into a growing export market has been very successful; it generates revenue that allows us to mitigate against the risks that a volatile dairy sector and a disrupted UK retail sector may bring. The new dairy is crucial to facilitate the growth and meet global demand.”

During the 12 months to the end of March 2018, Wyke recorded a turnover of £85 million, a 26% increase on the previous year. It aims to post £100 million in turnover this financial year.

Wyke Farms has been producing its cheddar to a secret family recipe for over 150 years and sells more than 15,000 tonnes of cheese annually.

In 2017, the dairy deepened its relationship with The Organic Milk Suppliers Cooperative, the UK’s largest producer of organic milk, in an effort to grow sales of organic cheese.