Resurrected Dumfries and Galloway yogurt producer now churning out 20 million pots a year

The firm now has plans to bring staffing numbers back to the level they were at when the site was shut last year

A resurrected yogurt producer is now churning out around 20 million pots a year.

And Rowan Glen, near Palnure, has plans to bring staffing numbers back to the level they were when the site was shut last year.

Forty-five workers lost their jobs in November 2022 when Dale Farm Ltd shut the award-winning firm.

Soon after, it was brought back to life as Rowan Glen Ltd thanks to help, guidance and a grant of £285,000 from South of Scotland Enterprise.

Managing director, Alan Baxter, who now employs 18 staff, said: “Over the past 12 months our dedicated team at Rowan Glen had full faith in themselves, their product and factory and have ensured that Rowan Glen has returned to several supermarket shelves across Scotland.

“We have also managed to secure our own label business in Ireland and doorstep delivery and food service contracts across the UK.”

South of Scotland Enterprise has now awarded a further £142,000 from its Net Zero Accelerator Fund, which will help the firm to install a cream separator and cooling and storage facility.

The move will allow it to produce its own cream on site from locally sourced milk, reducing freight miles and plastic and paper packaging.

And there are plans to take staffing numbers back to 45 by the company’s fifth year.

Mr Baxter added: “The milk separator project is laying the foundations for a sustainable future, removing a large amount of packaging usage, transport emissions and energy consumption from our supply chain.

“Not only does this significantly reduce our impact on the environment, it also opens new opportunities for product development and reduces our costs to help ensure we continue to deliver our everyday premium products at an affordable price.”

The firm’s products can be found in major supermarkets such as Aldi, Asda, Lidl, Sainsbury’s and Spar, as well as doorstep delivery firms McQueen’s and Roans.

SOSE chief executive Jane Morrison-Ross, who recently visited Rowan Glen, said: “It was fantastic to visit Rowan Glen and see the significant progress made by the company in the past year. Dairy and food and drink are cornerstone industries for us – both historically, and for the future.

“Support from our Net Zero Accelerator Fund will now allow the company to take another step forward, reducing the need to import cream and milk products, increasing its competitiveness and reducing packaging weight and emissions.

“This in turn will allow Rowan Glen to provide more support to the local supply chain and the local community.”

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