DOORSTEP MILK delivery is at the heart of a newly announced multi-million pound plan to expand a Glasgow-based dairy business.

McQueens Dairies Ltd, which takes its liquid milk supplies from farmer-owned co-op First Milk, has purchased the former Muller Wiseman dairy facility in East Kilbride, and will be refitting it between now and the Spring of 2020 to process liquid milk for doorstep delivery – including a line to satisfy the new demand for milk in glass bottles.

The family business, which was founded in 1995 by company chairman Mick McQueen and his wife Meg, now operates eight distribution depots in Scotland and north of England and a dairy in Glasgow. The business opened its latest depot in Galashiels in May 2019. The company currently employs 400 members of staff, with couple’s five children holding senior positions within the business.

The acquisition of the 6.5 acre dairy site in East Kilbride will allow the McQueens' to accelerate their growth aspirations in the doorstep delivery sector. The new facility will result in around 100 new jobs being created within the next two years.

Mr McQueen snr said: “We’re an ambitious business that delivers milk direct to customers’ doors and want to build on the success we’ve achieved so far. In the last year we grew turnover by 30% and we expect that increase to be repeated this year so the new dairy in East Kilbride, which is larger than our current dairy, gives us a real platform to maintain that momentum. We’re also very excited about creating many new jobs as a result.

“Our success to date has been by focussing on the demand for doorstep delivery both here in Scotland and in the north of England. We know that many people purchase milk from supermarkets but our business is about delivering milk direct to the consumer, be that doorsteps or businesses. There is a real growth in the demand for doorstep delivery and we are perfectly placed to respond.

“Our current dairy and distribution centre in the M8 Food Park in the north of Glasgow has reached capacity and doesn’t afford us any more scope to expand so the move to a purpose-built dairy, just twelve miles away and still within easy reach of our tens of thousands of customers, makes perfect sense.”

As a result of the expansion, McQueens will also increase its requirement for raw liquid milk supply from farmers. Mr McQueen explained: “We will be using the dairy in a different way to how it was used before, which was predominantly to produce flavoured milk and potted cream. We’ll be focussed on processing liquid milk along with orange and apple juices so a large part of our investment will be in modern dairy technology including new refrigeration plant, pasteurising equipment and a filler line that includes glass bottles which are having a resurgence with our customers.

“We are also pleased that another positive result from our expansion is that we will be processing more milk. Our supply relationship with First Milk will see them delivering more raw milk to us, directly from farmers, which is good news for everyone.”

Commenting on this development, First Milk's commercial director, Fraser Brown, added: “This announcement is great news and we look forward to continuing our milk supply partnership with McQueens as they grow and develop their business. We are proud to supply them with high quality, farm assured fresh milk directly from our farmer members, with full traceability – something we know is important to all customers.”

McQueens Dairies Ltd currently has over 100,000 milk delivery customers across Scotland and in the north of England served by distribution depots in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Kirkcaldy, Galashiels, Mansfield, Huddersfield, Warrington and Preston.

Mr McQueen added: “Our customers are key to our success. Many have been with us from the very start and remain loyal to us and we are committed to giving them the very best service and product in the market.”