Yeo Valley's commitment to organic farming, environmental conservation and the growth of the organic dairy industry has been recognised with a coveted Queen's Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development.
It's the second time in five years that the company's unique business approach has been recognised in this way. The first Award was presented in 2001, principally for its development of an organic dairy supply chain which has resulted in hundreds of farmers turning from conventional to organic dairy production.
The latest Award, announced to coincide with the Queen's 80th birthday, recognises the continuation of its support for organic farming and farmers, as well as its efforts to minimise its impact on the environment. On its own Somerset farmland, this includes the planting of thousands of native trees to restore old woodland and create new wooded areas, the restoration of almost 2km of traditional Mendip Hills drystone walls, the creation of new wildlife habitats and the laying and restoration of traditional hedgerows. Meanwhile in its production dairies Yeo Valley has applied a wide range of energy conservation, waste reduction and recycling activities.
Graham Keating, Yeo Valley's Communications director commented. "Winning one award was an honour that we took great pride in, but being selected for a 2nd is more than we ever expected.
"When we began making organic yogurts there were just a handful of farms supplying us. We quickly realised that if we were to develop we needed to have a growing number, so we set a new pattern in the dairy business by offering long-term contracts for organic milk.
-2-
These not only gave farmers a guarantee that there would be a market for their milk, they were also calculated to earn them a fair price. This approach has meant that even though the costs of organic farming are higher than conventional, our agreements ensure the 80 organic farmers supplying us today have a sustainable future. Yeo Valley has played an important part in the development of the UK organic dairy farming scene, working closely with a cooperative of farmers, the Organic Milk Suppliers Cooperative."
Tim Mead, the company's managing director added: "We are committed to the best standards of animal welfare and the maintenance of the environment. We have invested substantially in the restoration of our own Somerset farmland to help ensure it retains its traditional landscape and we are now planting and building for the future with projects to create havens for wild animals and birdlife."
Yeo Valley's investment in the future is also reflected in its dairy business. In just over a decade it has grown to become one of the country's most successful organic food companies and the most popular organic dairy brand. Today it is the market leader in organic yogurts, has the biggest-selling organic butter and cheese ranges and is the brand leader in organic milk.
The business, which unusually, remains an entirely British, family-owned and independent concern, produces its Yeo Valley Organic yogurts at Cannington near Bridgwater, makes luxury ice cream at its Heathfield dairy in Bovey Tracey in Devon and also manufactures high-quality, retailer-brand non-organic yogurts from its original farm dairy in Blagdon near Bristol.
With two logistics centres at Axbridge and Highbridge, the company now employs over 1000 people and has become the second largest yogurt manufacturer in the UK. Its farming activities, which started with just 150 acres in 1961, now extend to over 1200 acres on the Mendip Hills.
