Production of one of the 海角视频鈥檚 best-known cheeses has been boosted by a 拢3.2million investment from the Government鈥檚 鈥渟hovel ready鈥 fund.
The Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has used a grant from the Getting Building Fund to support the multi-million pound expansion of the world-class Saputo Dairy 海角视频 creamery in Davidstow, Cornwall, to increase production of cheddar and ingredients for infant formula.
The plant employs more than 200 people and is home to the famous which has annual sales of more than 拢300million and is found in more than half of all 海角视频 household fridges. The cheese is made from 100% West Country milk, directly supporting about 330 dairy farmers across Cornwall and the South West.
In 2020 the business starting selling Cathedral City to the Canadian and US markets for the first time, helped by a major media campaign which included an 8,500sq ft digital billboard standing 18 stories tall in Times Square, New York.
The LEP鈥檚 investment in plant and machinery at the Davidstow creamery will help increase capacity for cheese production and by-products such as demineralised whey, and reduce the environmental footprint of the creamery, including significant CO2 reductions.
Tom Atherton, president and chief operating officer of Saputo Diary 海角视频, said: 鈥淭he awarding of this grant is welcome news for Saputo Dairy 海角视频, our 200-plus employees in Cornwall, our 330 supplying farmers and all those who support our business in the South West.
How to contact William Telford and Business Live
Business Live's South West Business Reporter is William Telford. William has more than a decade's experience reporting on the business scene in Plymouth and the South West. He is based in Plymouth but covers the entire region.
To contact William: Email: william.telford@reachplc.com - Phone: 01752 293116 - Mob: 07584 594052 - Twitter: - LinkedIn: - Facebook:
Stay in touch: BusinessLive newsletters have been re-designed to make them even better. We send morning bulletins straight to your inbox on the latest news, views and opinion in the South West. Get our breaking news alerts and weekly sector reviews too. Sign up now - it's free and it only takes a minute. To sign up for Business Live's daily newsletters click .
And visit the Business Live South West LinkedIn page
鈥淚t enables us to strengthen the infrastructure at our Davidstow creamery to support the continued growth of our award-winning cheddar brands, both in the 海角视频 and abroad. The launch of Cathedral City in North America is just the first step in our ambitious international expansion programme.鈥
The Government鈥檚 Getting Building Fund is aimed at pumping money into 鈥渟hovel ready鈥 projects that can bring an instant economic benefit. In February 2021, a dozen South West projects went 鈥渓ive鈥 under the scheme after receiving 拢21million between them.
The Cornwall LEP successfully bid for 拢14.3million of Getting Building Fund investment in summer 2020 following a Government call for projects that could create jobs and support post-Covid-19 economic recovery across the country. The LEP is backing six other Getting Building Fund projects in Cornwall with a total value of 拢58m, supporting about 1,100 jobs.
Clare Parnell, who chairs the LEP鈥檚 rural group and is a farmer in North Cornwall, said: 鈥淭he Davidstow creamery is a major local employer whose supply chain extends across Cornwall and the wider region. The LEP鈥檚 investment, secured from the Getting Building Fund, is having an immediate impact by boosting capacity and improving the efficiency of the plant as the business looks to further growth.鈥
