Major family business begins its ambitious expansion

A major construction project has begun at one of Gloucestershire’s biggest family-owned businesses as it invests to capitalise on growing demand.

Cotteswold Dairy is adding a new 2,500 square metre cold store to its Tewkesbury-headquarters – with the biggest challenge for the business being that it must and will remain operational throughout the project.

County-based Vitruvius is managing the complex site transformation for the dairy with adi Group carrying out the building work for the business, which employs 350 staff.

George Workman, managing director of Cotteswold Dairy, said: ‘The new cold store facilities will allow the increase in customer demand to be met with much more efficiency, allowing for capacity increases, peaks in demand, management of current large orders and stock rotation.’

The popularity of milk delivered direct to the doorstep has been steadily increasing for the business, which was founded in 1938 and has recently seen an increase in both customers and organic growth.

Turnover increased from £53.5 million in 2019 to £58.8 million in 2021.

Mark Price, managing director of Brockworth-based Vitruvius Management Services, said: ‘This facility is key to supporting the company’s sustainability ethos and future proofing their business.’

David Beebee, managing director of adi Building and Refurbishment, said: ‘To work with this truly family-run business is something we are extremely proud of, and we all look forward to seeing this project come to life during this year.’

Work is expected to complete in Autumn 2022.

By Andrew Merrell

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