Millbrook Dairy, the fast-growing cheese and butter business founded in 2019 by David Evans and Kevin Beer, has been presented with the prestigious King’s Awards for Enterprise in International Trade, by David Fursdon, His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Devon.
The Award recognises Devon-based Millbrook Dairy’s exceptional performance and growth in collaborating with partners around the world to buy and sell dairy products. The company specialises in procuring and selling bulk and packaged cheese and butter across international markets with its main source of dairy products stemming from the UK and Ireland.
At the heart of this recognition lies the fact that overseas sales have grown over three years by 109 per cent. The company now operates across Europe, The Middle East, North America, and Asia-Pacific. As a start-up that was established in 2019, all current markets were entered in over this period and Millbrook Dairy is now the UK’s fastest-growing trader and exporter of bulk cheese into world markets.
Additional to its bulk cheese and butter business, Millbrook Dairy has developed its own premium brand, 1057 Extra Mature Scottish Cheddar, which is sold in USA, Canada, and Australia.
During the occasion, David Fursdon, His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Devon was full of praise for Millbrook Dairy for achieving its first Royal honour. He said, “We are delighted that Millbrook Dairy has been recognised with the UK’s highest business accolade.
"Against the backdrop of global economic uncertainty – due to inflation, international conflicts and various supply chain disruptions – Millbrook Dairy has shown that it remains possible to thrive globally and that demand for British exports is high.
"In this challenging period, it’s right that we celebrate Millbrook Dairy and showcase its achievements to the wider business community to encourage and inspire more firms – particularly SMEs – to look at trade again for growth.
"To present this award today to a Devon-based business has been a privilege.”
Co-founders Kevin Beer and David Evans, said that the extraordinary teamwork, deep-rooted relationships, and values that are shared across the whole team within the business have been a major contributor to its success.
“We are proud and humbled to have been presented with The King’s Awards for Enterprise: International Trade 2024 by David Fursdon, His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Devon.
“When we started on our journey in 2019, we never thought the business would grow in the way it has and especially during the turbulent trading periods that have been in place. For us, winning a King’s Awards for Enterprise and being recognised by the highest business awards in the land is a remarkable achievement and a very big honour," Beer and Evans said.
The King’s Awards for Enterprise, previously known as The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise, were renamed last year to reflect His Majesty The King’s desire to continue the legacy of HM Queen Elizabeth II’s by recognising outstanding UK businesses.
The Awards celebrate the success of exciting and innovative businesses which are leading the way with pioneering products or services, delivering impressive social mobility programmes, or showing their commitment to excellent sustainable development practices.
The Awards programme, now in its 58th year, is the most prestigious business award in the country, with successful businesses able to use the esteemed King’s Awards for Enterprise’ Emblem for the next five years.
