A FESTIVE rush has helped Wales’ oldest farmers’ co-operative celebrate its 80th anniversary in style – and is poised to achieve £50m in sales for the first time in its history.
As a result, South Caernarfon Creameries is on course for another record-breaking year with a predicted 25 per cent increase in sales.
Bosses say production of their award-winning cheeses in 2018-19 promises to top 13,000 tons, compared to 11,500 last year.
With people going crackers for their flagship Dragon range, the production line at SCC’s cheese-making plant at Chwilog near Pwllheli is working flat-out seven days a week to keep supplies flowing.
The announcement could not have come at a better time as the company reaches the climax of its 80th anniversary celebration year, having first launched as a farmers co-operative in 1938.
Among the products popular for Christmas is the new Slate Cavern Aged Cheddar made with Penderyn Whisky, launched at this year’s Royal Welsh Show, to mark the anniversary.
“It’s great news for all our members and the perfect Christmas present to know that the business plans we laid out for the future are coming to fruition,” said SCC commercial director Nick Beadman.
The sales growth is testimony to a phased £13m investment in improvements SCC has made over four years including the expansion of its state-of the art cheese processing factory.
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