Father & Son

During the recent Scottish Parliament Rural Affairs Committee inquiry into the Scottish Dairy industry one of those from whom we heard evidence was Robert Graham of Graham Family Dairies in Bridge of Allan.

Robert ( junior) impressed the committee greatly with his "can do" attitude and his passion for innovation. I have spoken to him since on the phone seeking information on dairy issues and today I got the opportunity to tour Graham's main processing plant with him and his father .

The dairy sits on the site of their original family farm and although greatly enlarged the strong local, rural roots that sustain it are very clear.

Robert ( Senior) is now Chairman of a company which has a £90 million turnover but he is still a fascinating font of stories about the origins and progress of this amazingly successful family enterprise as well as being a great guide to what was actually happening in the dairy now.

Robert ( Junior) has strong technical know how, a sharp business sense and an acute appreciation of markets . His sister completes the picture with clever and highly focussed marketing.

I left invigorated by the positive , creative attitude of the family ( who now employ 500 people and sustain almost 100 farms which supply the milk) and confident that whilst there are ambitious , achieving , imaginative people like this around ,Scotland is bound to succeed.