A Greater Manchester yogurt manufacturer has announced an investment worth £1m to incorporate advanced technology and robotics into its plant.
Lancashire Farm Dairies, which is based in Rochdale and claims to be the UK's third largest natural yogurt brand, said the move announced on Friday will take the plant "in a whole new direction".
It's claimed that, once installed, the robotic-based system will be automated from end to end, enabling Lancashire Farm Dairies, founded in 1984, to manufacture 25% more 1kg yogurts.
Managing director, Azhar Zouq, of Lancashire Farm Dairies, said: “We are always looking for ways to improve the business and with some of the latest improvements, along with the introduction of new technology, we have invested in the future of the business so we can continue to grow and fulfill our ambitions.
“Lancashire Farm started as a small business and we are so pleased with the growth so far, but in order to take on major competitors, big investments in manufacturing and taking advantage of such fantastic advancements in technology will play a key part."
Paradise Farm in Lancashire, which is one of the farms that supplies the brand, is responsible for producing 10,000 litres of milk a day - enough to produce half a million pots of Lancashire Farm yogurts per year.
With such large volumes available, the business plans to invest into more efficient systems to create yogurts.
Friday's announcement follows a £3.5m investment in the business back in 2018 - on every aspect of the business including new tanks, new fermentation and a new CIP system for cleaning and filling lines.
Colleagues at the Rochdale based plant can also benefit from the new investments, with the new robotics system requiring operator roles to oversee the plant. This will create elevated positions for internal staff who can expect to undergo new training in the tech-heavy plant as business continues to boom.
