Guernsey Dairy stops cheese production

Thursday, 27 February 2025 15:30

Guernsey cheese will disappear from shop shelves by Christmas 2025.

Cheese sales accounted for less than 1.2% of Guernsey Dairy’s annual revenue in 2024.

The company says stopping cheese production will free up space to replace milk packing and downline handling equipment.

While production of butter, cream and ice cream could increase, using the milk that otherwise would have been made into cheese.

The Dairy has previously made mild, mature, and extra mature cheddar, as well as flavoured cheeses.

Dairy operations director Andrew Tabel says the company has to focus on maintaining other 'essential operations'.

“Guernsey Dairy has a special position in the local community, as the supplier of fresh dairy products that help sustain the island’s rural environment, farming economy and the Guernsey Cattle Breed.

We need to repurpose space within the physical constraints of the existing Dairy to accommodate a new milk packing unit and all the peripheral equipment without interrupting the processing and supply of fresh liquid milk.

The strategic decision to cease cheese production will facilitate this.”

The final batches, made before Christmas, will continue to be sold.

All types of Guernsey Dairy cheese are expected to disappear from shop shelves by the end of 2025.