Focus On Scotland
Consumer demand has never been so varied or complex, with food processors challenged to deliver ever more variety, quality, and taste and, increasingly, products with specific health-giving or functional properties.
A tall order for many processors, but for Rowan Glen – a rapidly growing dairy business based in South West Scotland – combining premium taste and quality with functionality is proving the secret of success. Since its purchase in 2002 by leading dairy processing group, Dale Farm GB, which also has operations in Northern Ireland and England, Rowan Glen sales have grown four fold, with the company now supplying yogurts and drinks, butter, cheese and dairy spreads to leading retailers and food service distributors throughout the UK.
All Rowan Glen products carry the brands signature Naturally Scottish identity, with natural, great tasting, authentic Scottish goodness guaranteed by the processors policy of sourcing milk from neighbouring farms. Strengthening this powerful product proposition is the companys advanced R&D capabilities, particularly within the pro-biotic sector.
The functional foods industry is growing at a phenomenal rate in line with a consumer shift towards healthier lifestyles and their demand for foods to support this well-being focus, explains Ronnie Wilson, Rowan Glen Sales Manager. The dairy sector accounts for a 45% lions share of the functional market and, within this, probiotic yogurts and drinks represent the biggest growth area. In a sector dominated by the multinationals, our expertise, which has seen us become one of only a few national processors to develop and market our own probiotic yogurt drink for own brand supply, is proving a vital route to market. In addition we plan to launch our own Rowan Glen Intune Probiotic drink in the coming months.
Uniquely, Rowan Glen also incorporates the probiotic concept into one of its yogurt range, Rowan Glen Fat Free. The hugely successful Fat Free range will be re-launched in September, with a refreshed image including strong on-pack communication about its fat free probiotic quality and Low GI status, new 150g pot size, and two new flavours – toffee, and rhubarb. Rowan Glen is also enjoying success with the addition of butters, dairy spreads, cheddar cheeses and cheesecakes to its family of consumer dairy products.
Rowan Glen encapsulates Scotlands trusted food production heritage and also progressive and consumer-led product development, continues Ronnie. As a result, it is a brand that takes proud position in supermarkets across Scotland.
