Cotteswold Dairy has played a major role in daily lives of Tewkesbury people for more than 70 years, this is thanks to the quality of its locally-sourced milk and doorstep deliveries.
The company’s ethos was established by founder, Harry Workman, when he began his door to door delivery by bucket and ladle in 1938. It continued with his son, Roger, when he joined the business in 1963 and it is maintained today by third generation, George Workman.
As independent dairies have closed over the years, the company has grown and developed from its Tewkesbury headquarters so that it now employs more than 300 people and has depots in Cheltenham, Tenbury Wells, Conwy and North Wales.
The company attributes its success to the skills and values of the Workman family, plus the support of local farmers within a 50-mile radius of the dairy who supply the excellent quality milk.
It is this insistence on the highest possible standards for the dairy and the company’s transport facilities, plus an unwavering desire to support the local community that have ensured the business has moved with the times and continues to innovate.
This was recognised recently when Cotteswold Dairy won the Family Business of the Year Award 2015 at the Food & Farming Industry Awards held at the House of Commons.
The company also created a first in Tewkesbury town centre when it partnered with the newly refurbished Roses Theatre to open the Cotteswold Café @ the Roses.
A key focus for the business now is the re-development of the Cotteswold Dairy site in Northway Lane.
Managing Director George Workman explains:
“We have been on our present site since 1969 and we know that we need to modernise our facilities to maximise its potential.
At the same time we will be improving facilities for the staff and an aim of the project is to reduce the impact that our activities have on the environment."
He adds:
“Whilst the company has grown we maintain our family values and Tewkesbury has always been our home.
With the competition of major supermarkets and other mid-size dairies, we need to alter the site so that it is fit for purpose and so that we maintain focus of top quality products, delivered with first class customer service.”
