Robert Wiseman Dairies
Encyclopedia
Robert Wiseman Dairies plc is a large Scottish milk
supplier and distributor. They are now one of the largest dairy
businesses in Great Britain
with seven major dairies (in Aberdeen
, East Kilbride
, Glasgow
, Manchester
, Droitwich Spa
, Bridgwater
, and Okehampton
). Robert Wiseman Dairies also distribute cream
and orange juice
. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange
and is a constituent of the FTSE SmallCap Index
.
, with a horse and cart used for doorstep deliveries in East Kilbride
.
1967 saw the current Chairman, Alan Wiseman, join the business straight from school, followed some eight years later by the Company’s current Managing Director, Robert Wiseman Junior. Robert Wiseman Senior handed control of the business to his sons in 1976 and they gradually built the business up through a series of acquisitions in the 1970s and 1980s.
In 1988 the company built a new purpose built dairy in Bellshill (referred to above as the Glasgow Dairy). This dairy was designed for supermarket
supplies and quickly gained contracts from some of the larger retailers. Having achieved success within Scotland, the Directors were determined to continue expanding the business and saw an opportunity to repeat what had been achieved in Scotland by establishing a production base in the North of England.
In March 1994 the Company was floated on the London Stock Exchange
. The money raised from the flotation allowed the acquisition of Kennerty Farm Dairies and the construction of a new Manchester
dairy which opened in September 1995 and was operating to capacity within four years.
In the late 1990s further growth in turnover was primarily achieved with further acquisitions in Scotland, including the Co-op liquid milk business, Hamilton Dairies and the liquid milk business from Scottish Pride (including the popular Fresh 'n' lo brand).
A site was then identified at Droitwich Spa
, south west of Birmingham
, and a dairy opened there in April 2001.
In late 2006 the Company acquired Milklink's fresh liquid milk processing and distribution business which included diaries in Okehampton
and Pensilva. This expansion in capacity enabled the Company to secure a contract to supply 60% of Tesco
's organic milk requirements. The Company's latest development, a new 500 million litres per annum processing and distribution site at Bridgwater
in Somerset
, commenced operation as planned in December 2007. The Pensilva dairy closed in June 2008.
A deal with a Spanish distributor to supply fresh milk in that country was agreed in February 2008.
The Droitwich dairy has a capacity of 500 million litres (110 million gallons) per annum and is believed to be the largest fresh liquid milk dairy in the world.
In March 2011, it was announced that the Okehampton
dairy in Devon
would close in April, and its capacity would be taken up at Bridgwater
in Somerset
.
The company also has thirteen distribution depots throughout the UK.
The livery was also used by the company on a hot air balloon designed by Scotair Balloons at the 2007 Royal Highland Show
, and the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta
.
A balloon was also designed for their 'fresh n lo' range of pasteurised semi-skimmed milk to increase the brand's visibility.
for a £270m price-fixing conspiracy
. Wiseman Dairies, along with 8 other companies, was found guilty under the Competition Act for co-ordinating price rises for various dairy products. They were originally fined £6.1 million, although this has been negotiated down to £3.1 million as they admitted liability and co-operated with investigation.
Milk
Milk is a white liquid produced by the mammary glands of mammals. It is the primary source of nutrition for young mammals before they are able to digest other types of food. Early-lactation milk contains colostrum, which carries the mother's antibodies to the baby and can reduce the risk of many...
supplier and distributor. They are now one of the largest dairy
Dairy
A dairy is a business enterprise established for the harvesting of animal milk—mostly from cows or goats, but also from buffalo, sheep, horses or camels —for human consumption. A dairy is typically located on a dedicated dairy farm or section of a multi-purpose farm that is concerned...
businesses in Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
with seven major dairies (in Aberdeen
Aberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
, East Kilbride
East Kilbride
East Kilbride is a large suburban town in the South Lanarkshire council area, in the West Central Lowlands of Scotland. Designated as Scotland's first new town in 1947, it forms part of the Greater Glasgow conurbation...
, Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, Droitwich Spa
Droitwich Spa
Droitwich Spa is a town in northern Worcestershire, England, on the River Salwarpe.The town is situated on massive deposits of salt, and salt has been extracted there since ancient times. The natural Droitwich brine contains 2½ lbs...
, Bridgwater
Bridgwater
Bridgwater is a market town and civil parish in Somerset, England. It is the administrative centre of the Sedgemoor district, and a major industrial centre. Bridgwater is located on the major communication routes through South West England...
, and Okehampton
Okehampton
Okehampton is a town and civil parish in West Devon in the English county of Devon. It is situated at the northern edge of Dartmoor, and has an estimated population of 7,155.-History:...
). Robert Wiseman Dairies also distribute cream
Cream
Cream is a dairy product that is composed of the higher-butterfat layer skimmed from the top of milk before homogenization. In un-homogenized milk, over time, the lighter fat rises to the top. In the industrial production of cream this process is accelerated by using centrifuges called "separators"...
and orange juice
Orange juice
Orange juice is a popular beverage made from oranges. It is made by extraction from the fresh fruit, by desiccation and subsequent reconstitution of dried juice, or by concentration of the juice and the subsequent addition of water to the concentrate...
. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange
London Stock Exchange
The London Stock Exchange is a stock exchange located in the City of London within the United Kingdom. , the Exchange had a market capitalisation of US$3.7495 trillion, making it the fourth-largest stock exchange in the world by this measurement...
and is a constituent of the FTSE SmallCap Index
FTSE SmallCap Index
The FTSE SmallCap Index is an index of small market capitalization companies consisting of the 351st to the 619th largest listed companies on the London Stock Exchange main market...
.
History
The company was founded in 1947 by Robert WisemanRobert Wiseman
Robert Ramsey Wiseman was the founder of Robert Wiseman Dairies, one of the United Kingdom's largest dairy businesses.-Career:...
, with a horse and cart used for doorstep deliveries in East Kilbride
East Kilbride
East Kilbride is a large suburban town in the South Lanarkshire council area, in the West Central Lowlands of Scotland. Designated as Scotland's first new town in 1947, it forms part of the Greater Glasgow conurbation...
.
1967 saw the current Chairman, Alan Wiseman, join the business straight from school, followed some eight years later by the Company’s current Managing Director, Robert Wiseman Junior. Robert Wiseman Senior handed control of the business to his sons in 1976 and they gradually built the business up through a series of acquisitions in the 1970s and 1980s.
In 1988 the company built a new purpose built dairy in Bellshill (referred to above as the Glasgow Dairy). This dairy was designed for supermarket
Supermarket
A supermarket, a form of grocery store, is a self-service store offering a wide variety of food and household merchandise, organized into departments...
supplies and quickly gained contracts from some of the larger retailers. Having achieved success within Scotland, the Directors were determined to continue expanding the business and saw an opportunity to repeat what had been achieved in Scotland by establishing a production base in the North of England.
In March 1994 the Company was floated on the London Stock Exchange
London Stock Exchange
The London Stock Exchange is a stock exchange located in the City of London within the United Kingdom. , the Exchange had a market capitalisation of US$3.7495 trillion, making it the fourth-largest stock exchange in the world by this measurement...
. The money raised from the flotation allowed the acquisition of Kennerty Farm Dairies and the construction of a new Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
dairy which opened in September 1995 and was operating to capacity within four years.
In the late 1990s further growth in turnover was primarily achieved with further acquisitions in Scotland, including the Co-op liquid milk business, Hamilton Dairies and the liquid milk business from Scottish Pride (including the popular Fresh 'n' lo brand).
A site was then identified at Droitwich Spa
Droitwich Spa
Droitwich Spa is a town in northern Worcestershire, England, on the River Salwarpe.The town is situated on massive deposits of salt, and salt has been extracted there since ancient times. The natural Droitwich brine contains 2½ lbs...
, south west of Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, and a dairy opened there in April 2001.
Okehampton
Okehampton is a town and civil parish in West Devon in the English county of Devon. It is situated at the northern edge of Dartmoor, and has an estimated population of 7,155.-History:...
and Pensilva. This expansion in capacity enabled the Company to secure a contract to supply 60% of Tesco
Tesco
Tesco plc is a global grocery and general merchandise retailer headquartered in Cheshunt, United Kingdom. It is the third-largest retailer in the world measured by revenues and the second-largest measured by profits...
's organic milk requirements. The Company's latest development, a new 500 million litres per annum processing and distribution site at Bridgwater
Bridgwater
Bridgwater is a market town and civil parish in Somerset, England. It is the administrative centre of the Sedgemoor district, and a major industrial centre. Bridgwater is located on the major communication routes through South West England...
in Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
, commenced operation as planned in December 2007. The Pensilva dairy closed in June 2008.
A deal with a Spanish distributor to supply fresh milk in that country was agreed in February 2008.
Operations
Although still based in Scotland, sales in England now account for more than 66% of the Company’s sales. Doorstep deliveries continue to decline resulting in an increase in sales in supermarkets. More than 70% of sales are now to multiple retailers.The Droitwich dairy has a capacity of 500 million litres (110 million gallons) per annum and is believed to be the largest fresh liquid milk dairy in the world.
In March 2011, it was announced that the Okehampton
Okehampton
Okehampton is a town and civil parish in West Devon in the English county of Devon. It is situated at the northern edge of Dartmoor, and has an estimated population of 7,155.-History:...
dairy in Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
would close in April, and its capacity would be taken up at Bridgwater
Bridgwater
Bridgwater is a market town and civil parish in Somerset, England. It is the administrative centre of the Sedgemoor district, and a major industrial centre. Bridgwater is located on the major communication routes through South West England...
in Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
.
The company also has thirteen distribution depots throughout the UK.
Branding
A key part of Wiseman's branding is the use of a black-and-white cowhide livery on the company's milk cartons, labels and many company vehicles, making them a highly recognisable brand.The livery was also used by the company on a hot air balloon designed by Scotair Balloons at the 2007 Royal Highland Show
Royal Highland Show
The Royal Highland Show is Scotland's annual farming and countryside showcase.It is held annually at the Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston over the second-last weekend in June , the event attracts over 1,000 exhibitors, 4,500 head of livestock, and an annual 200,000 visitors - making it Scotland's...
, and the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta
Bristol International Balloon Fiesta
The Bristol International Balloon Fiesta is held annually during August in Bristol, England. Teams from the UK and other parts of the world bring their hot air balloons to the site and participate in mass ascents where as many as 100 balloons may launch at a time.The event was first held in 1979...
.
A balloon was also designed for their 'fresh n lo' range of pasteurised semi-skimmed milk to increase the brand's visibility.
Controversy
In 2007, Wiseman Dairies was one of a number of companies investigated by the Office of Fair TradingOffice of Fair Trading
The Office of Fair Trading is a not-for-profit and non-ministerial government department of the United Kingdom, established by the Fair Trading Act 1973, which enforces both consumer protection and competition law, acting as the UK's economic regulator...
for a £270m price-fixing conspiracy
Price fixing cases
-Air Travel:On 1 August 2007 it was reported that British Airways has been fined £121.5 million for price-fixing. The fine was imposed by the Office of Fair Trading after BA admitted to the price-fixing of fuel surcharges on long haul flights...
. Wiseman Dairies, along with 8 other companies, was found guilty under the Competition Act for co-ordinating price rises for various dairy products. They were originally fined £6.1 million, although this has been negotiated down to £3.1 million as they admitted liability and co-operated with investigation.