Demand for natural dairy products fuels £172m record sales at Scottish family firm
“Today’s shoppers care more than ever about where their food comes from” – Robert Graham, managing director
Graham’s The Family Dairy has reported record annual sales of £172 million but warned of “extremely challenging” trading conditions amid soaring costs.
Robert Graham, managing director of the family-owned Stirlingshire dairy empire, said the group had continued to innovate and invest heavily in its manufacturing operations.
The firm reported an 11 per cent increase in sales to £172m, with pre-tax profits coming in at £4.5m, boosted by demand for natural dairy products. The results cover the year to the end of April.
The company’s products are now finding their way into one in five English kitchens, with brand reach surging by 63.2 per cent in the year to July, according to recent industry data.
Graham said: “We know what the Graham’s name means to people, and today’s shoppers care more than ever about where their food comes from. Whether someone is reaching for a bottle of our traditional gold top Jersey milk, our organic milk, or one of our high-protein pouches, we want them to feel that connection.
“Our traditional dairy roots are just as important to us as our newer ranges led by innovation, and that balance is exactly what our retail partners value.”
To support rising demand and invest in future capacity, the company reinvested £4.1m in capital expenditure. A key focus of this investment was the further expansion of the dairy’s cottage cheese and protein manufacturing facilities.
Graham said: “We’ve continued to invest heavily in our manufacturing operations to ensure that we can meet the growing demand of our customers while maintaining the highest standards of quality, service and efficiency. Demand for natural high protein dairy products continues to accelerate and we have established ourselves as one of the category leaders.”
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Graham’s was founded in 1939 by Robert Graham in Bridge of Allan, Stirlingshire, where he reared a dozen cows, milked them by hand and made deliveries by horse and cart. Today, the business spans three generations and produces a diverse range of dairy products, including butter and yoghurts.
The group warned that trading conditions remain challenging, amid a combination of high fuel prices, rising packaging costs and milk price increases.
“The strong sales growth achieved in 2026 has continued into 2027, despite significant inflationary pressures on fuel, energy and packaging costs, driven largely by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East,” noted Graham. “While these challenges persist, we remain committed to delivering high-quality dairy products to our customers and continuing to invest in the future of the business.
“As fifth generation farmers ourselves, milking our own cows, we genuinely understand the pressures across the entire supply chain. Our close relationships with our 100 supplying Scottish farms, combined with operational efficiencies from our capital investments, have allowed us to manage these headwinds effectively while delivering sustainable growth.”
He added: “As a family business, we are immensely proud of what we have achieved. From our origins as a family farm, to becoming one of the UK’s leading dairy businesses, we continue to invest in people, products, farming partnerships and manufacturing capability.”
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