Rodda's Invests £6 Million in New Cottage Cheese Facility
Rodda's, a well-known dairy producer, has committed £6 million to establish a state-of-the-art cottage cheese manufacturing facility at its Scorrier site in Cornwall. This investment comes as demand for cottage cheese continues to rise. The funds are being allocated for the installation of specialized equipment designed for cottage cheese production.
Once fully operational, the facility will be among the few dedicated cottage cheese production sites in the United Kingdom. With an annual production capacity of 4,000 tonnes, the new facility is expected to create 20 jobs, contributing to the local economy.
The move to produce cottage cheese on-site offers sustainability benefits by utilizing more of the skimmed milk that Rodda's currently handles. Currently, only 7% of the 61 million litres of milk processed by the company is used for its flagship clotted cream, with much of the skimmed milk being sold on the commodity market. The new facility will allow Rodda's to use more of its surplus milk internally, enhancing efficiency and sustainability.
The new processes and automation technologies at the Scorrier site will build on recent investments in advanced production machinery, aimed at improving efficiency and technical capability. Nicholas Rodda, managing director of Rodda's, stated that the investment aligns with the company's long-term goals of running an efficient manufacturing business guided by circular-economy principles.
Demand for cottage cheese has been steadily increasing, driven by the popularity of high-protein, natural foods. Market data indicates that the total market spend for cottage cheese in the UK rose by 41.9% to £102.2 million, with purchase volume increasing by 28.1% to 25.6 million kilograms. Retailers like Tesco have also reported significant increases in demand, leading them to expand their supplier base and product range.
Rodda's expects to begin production at the new facility this summer, while operations at its existing creamery in Scorrier, which produces clotted cream, butter, and speciality milk, will continue as usual.
