Investment in growth reaps rewards for Telford's Bridge Cheese

The Telford-based company – which marked its sixth birthday in July – saw another 12 months of sustained growth throughout the last year taking its turnover beyond the £30million mark.

Managing director Michael Harte says continued investment in the business and a focus on innovation mean the signs are already looking good for more success in 2025.

“We are immensely proud of the growth we have enjoyed since our launch in 2018, with production volumes increasing from 2,600 metric tonnes in 2018-19 to a record 8,400 metric tonnes in the last year.

“In that time we have built a really first-class team who are absolutely committed to maintaining our core values of consistency and quality of delivery, meeting our customers’ needs, being flexible in our products and processes and always being ready to innovate.

“The theme of innovation has been particularly important over the last year – and will continue to be so as we position ourselves for the growth we want to see over the coming years.

“We have been focused on an ongoing digitalisation of our processes – working with the likes of Made Smarter, Make UK and the AI Adoption Accelerator Programme – to make sure we are harnessing the power of new technology for the benefit of all our clients and staff.

“We have invested in a new pilot plant and new product development processes which are already delivering results, and are looking to continue our digital journey in 2025 with the development of real time machine monitoring of all key assets and by exploring automation opportunities.

“Joining the AI accelerator programme is another example of how we continue to develop our processes so that we can deliver exactly what our clients need, just when they need it and with the quality they have come to expect from us.

“We are also continuing our drive to make the business as sustainable as possible. Having led the industry last year in a pioneering scheme to prevent as much PPE from going to landfill as possible, this year we are also working with Warwick Manufacturing Group to drive down our carbon emissions still further.”

The past year also saw awards success for Bridge Cheese, with a record medal haul at the industry’s most prestigious event coming after it was crowned a Shropshire champion for excellence.

The company scooped six gold medals, three silvers and a bronze at the International Cheese & Dairy Awards – the dairy industry’s equivalent of the Oscars – and was crowned champion for excellence in manufacturing and engineering at Shropshire Chamber’s business awards.

“To have been so successful in the awards we entered last year was the icing on the cake and a real tribute to every single member of the team here. It is our people who make Bridge Cheese what it is and this success is all down to them.” 

For more about Bridge Cheese visit https://www.bridgecheese.com/