Member Article

Dairy firm delivers growth on 21st anniversary

A milk delivery company, which is celebrating its 21st anniversary, is aiming to grow its staff numbers from 194 to more than 300over the next three years.

Glasgow-headquartered McQueens Dairies employs 194 across its six depots, including a base at the Mitchelson Industrial Park in Kirkcaldy, and has revealed ambitious expansion plans, which also include opening at least two new depots in the same period.

The third-generation family firm, which has also experienced a 25 per cent increase in turnover year-on-year for the last three years, delivers milk to more than 50,000 residential and commercial doorsteps from Scotland down to the Midlands.

The expansion has also allowed the business to invest in a new processing facility at its head office, reversing the pattern of consolidation seen in the dairy industry over the last 30 years. More than 20 full time jobs have been created since its opening 14 months ago.

Founder and managing director, Mick McQueen, said: “Our growing customer list shows no sign of slowing, and our biggest problem is making people aware that such a service still exists. Our customers love the fact that our milk comes from British farms and that it’s delivered directly to their doorstep.

“Five years ago we had 30 employees and today we are just shy of 200. We have experienced 45 per cent growth year-on-year in staff numbers for the last five years and our aim is to grow by 50 per cent in the next three.

“Investing in our own processing facility provided us with the security of having control of the quantities of milk being produced and delivered. This allowed us to confidently expand our operations in Scotland and England, with two depots in Huddersfield and Mansfield launching in the last two years.

“We are now seeking to open a further two depots in England to increase our reach across the UK.

“It’s the continuing support of our customers that has allowed us to grow and create jobs. Without them, this wouldn’t have been possible.”

McQueens Dairies was founded in 1995 and alongside its headquarters in Glasgow, the company has opened bases in Cheshire, Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire.

The McQueen family started the business with a milk round in Fife. Finding that customers liked the approach of delivering the freshest milk and dairy products to their doorstep, the family opened their first office in Ladeddie Farm, near St Andrews in Fife.

From Fife, the company spread its wings across central Scotland, developing a loyal and supportive customer base in Glasgow, Edinburgh, The Lothians and Renfrewshire. In 2010 McQueens Dairies moved into state of the art food premises at M8 Food Park in Glasgow.

Mick continued: “It was only my wife and I, Meg, as well as the children for the first few years.

“We place huge emphasis on finding the right employees and treating them well. Our longest serving employee is Dave Falls, who was also our first member of staff after year three. And there are others who have been with us for more than 15 years.”

Mick and Meg’s children, Ruairidh, Adam, Calum, Jamie and Anna all have a hands-on role in the company.

McQueens Dairies opened a depot in Warrington, Cheshire in 2012. Huddersfield in West Yorkshire followed in October 2014, creating 30 jobs and winning 9,000 customers. The expansion continued with the opening of a branch in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire in October 2015, which now boasts 4,000 customers.

For further information, visit www.mcqueensdairies.co.uk.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Sam Harris .