Granarolo acquires West Horsley Dairy to fuel UK push

Granarolo is making a major move to significantly increase its volume of Italian dairy products in the UK.

The company has announced the complete acquisition of West Horsley Dairy Limited, a strategic action designed to boost customer reach, particularly across the dynamic London market.

The acquisition aligns with Granarolo’s 2026-2029 strategic plan, which prioritizes internationalization, with the UK being a key European target market.

Founded in 1992 by Philip and Catherine Colton, West Horsley Dairy specializes in distributing dairy products (milk, cream, cheese, yogurt) and breakfast items.

The acquisition provides Granarolo with immediate, high-quality distribution infrastructure including West Horsley Dairy’s operations with 73 employees and a fleet of 43 refrigerated vehicles. The dairy reaches approximately 500 customers, primarily in the high-value Horeca and foodservice markets in London and the south-east of England.

“Consolidation in the UK is an important part of the Group’s growth policy abroad,” said Gianpiero Calzolari, chairman of Granarolo. “The plan is to significantly increase the volume of Italian dairy products in the UK, focusing on the Horeca and food service markets in London, where West Horsley has consolidated its presence”.

Granarolo UK, which has managed the Group’s UK operations since acquiring the Midland Food Group in 2018, sees the acquisition as a perfect opportunity to push its premium range.

Anthony Bosco, CEO of Granarolo UK, confirmed the immediate plan: “Over the course of the year, we aim to integrate West Horsley’s product portfolio with our wide range of fresh and mature Italian cheeses such as Mozzarella, Burrata, Stracciatella, Mascarpone, Parmigiano Reggiano PDO, Gorgonzola PDO and Pecorino PDO, as well as other Italian specialities”.

The founders of West Horsley Dairy, Philip and Catherine Colton, expressed confidence in the handover: “We are confident that it will maximise the value of West Horsley’s offering by expanding it, to the satisfaction of the many customers who have placed their trust in us over the years”.

Granarolo is already a leading player in the export of Italian dairy products worldwide, accounting for 9.1% of total Italian dairy exports. The company’s volume growth in the UK was 8.6% compared to the previous year. With overseas sales projected to account for approximately 40% of total sales in 2025, this strategic UK acquisition is crucial for sustaining its international growth trajectory.