STRANRAER, SCOTLAND
The Home Of Award-Winning Scottish Cheddar
STRANRAER’S STORY
The mild, moist climate of South West Scotland is perfect for dairy farming and the area is one of the largest dairy fields in the UK, producing high quality milk.
Stranraer, the second largest town in Dumfries & Galloway, nearly 90 miles southwest of Glasgow, has been home to a creamery since 1899. Originally called the Galloway Cheese Company, over time (with a colourful history of liquidation, growth, mergers and acquisition), the creamery was to become the Caledonian Cheese Company.
In 1995 the site was bought by A. McLelland & Sons Limited and in turn in 2005, the Lactalis Group purchased A. McLelland & Sons Limited and with it the creamery in Stranraer comprising Caledonian Cheese Company Limited and McLelland Cheese Packing Limited.
OUR AWARD-WINNING CREAMERY
Our award-winning creamery, the Caledonian Cheese Company Limited manufactures award-winning Scottish cheddar and is the home of the Seriously® & Galloway Cheddar brands:
Full-flavoured, distinctive, characterful and seriously tasty, Seriously® Cheddar has won more Great Taste Awards than any other cheddar brand.
Galloway® has been the family’s favourite Scottish cheddar brand since 1959. Made only with 100% Scottish milk, it has a smooth, creamy flavour that’s loved by Scottish families.
We also manufacture whey powder at the creamery, supplying many well-known companies who use our products in a wide range of confectionery, ice creams and ready meals.
MCLELLAND CHEESE PACKING
OUR STATE-OF-THE ART PACKING FACILITY
McLelland Cheese Packing Limited is our state-of-the-art packing facility, also in Stranraer, Scotland, packing block, grated & sliced cheddar under our brands Seriously® and Galloway® as well as retailer own brand.
WHY WORK FOR US IN STRANRAER?
The team in Stranraer has the secure backing of a global group that can offer a world of opportunity to the right candidates.
The Lactalis Group, the global number one dairy company. Lactalis’ success is a collective success; the 85,500 people who work for the Group all share the desire to grow together and to share our passion and unique dairy know-how.
Locally within Stranraer, we have approximately 220 in our team which encompasses Cheese & Whey Production, Warehousing, Engineering, Packing, Quality and Laboratory, Finance, HSE, Lean/Continuous Improvement and HR. We provide a competitive benefits package and the development opportunities that you would expect from a food company of our standing.
In addition to this, the site itself is located in an enviable, coastal location close to the shores of Loch Ryan and at the heart of the beautiful rolling landscapes of Dumfries & Galloway in South West Scotland. The area has much to offer with forest and green spaces, expansive beaches, woodland trails, dark skies, The Galloway Tourist Route and the South West Coastal 300 route and even a Unesco Biosphere. We have an adventure playground on our doorstep.
We are well served for links to Ireland and both the central belt of Scotland and the north of England. There is always lots to do in the area with the local Oyster Festival, Music Festivals, the internationally renowned Wigtown Book Festival, Gardens, Castles and Distilleries.
STRANRAER VACANCIES
There are currently no vacancies.
STRANRAER HISTORY
The Creamery History
1899
First creamery built in Stranraer
1899
First creamery built in Stranraer by Galloway Creameries Co-operative Farmers Association. The location was on the same site as the creamery today.
1920
Creamery taken over by Galloway Creamery Ltd
1920
The Galloway Creameries Co-operative Farmers Association goes onto liquidation. The creamery is taken over by Galloway Creamery Ltd.
1933/4
Scottish Milk Marketing Board formed
1933/4
The Scottish Milk Marketing Board formed. They take over the Galloway Creamery.
1968
New creamery opened by HRH Princess Margaret
1968
New creamery opened by HRH Princess Margaret following major refurbishment in the mid 1960s.
1990
Galloway Cheese Company Ltd takes over
1990
Galloway Cheese Company Ltd takes over (with shared ownership of 60% by SMMB Scottish Pride, 20% St Ivel and 20% CWS). C. £13m spent refurbishing the creamery with a new Alfa Laval cheese making system.
1994
Galloway Cheese Company Ltd goes into liquidation
1994
Galloway Cheese Company Ltd goes into liquidation. 120 jobs lost.
1995
A McLelland & Son consortium buy the creamery
1995
A McLelland & Son consortium buy the creamery. Work restarts.
2005
Acquisition of A McLelland & Sons Ltd. by the Lactalis Group
2005
Acquisition of A McLelland & Sons Ltd. by the Lactalis Group. The Group purchase the Scotland based cheese manufacturer with its factories in Stranraer.
Today
Since 2005, Lactalis has invested over £30m
Today
Since 2005, Lactalis has invested over £30m in both the Caledonian Cheese Company Ltd and McLelland Cheese Packaging Ltd. This includes improvements to milk reception, case packing, conveyoring and sliced & grated cheese capability.