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anaging director Ahzar Zouq explained:
“Within the last few years, consumers have
Mbecome increasingly aware of how food is
manufactured and where it comes from. We have
also noticed an increased call for clarity and trans-
parency within the dairy/food industry.

“There is a great deal of confusion around terms
such as ‘grass-fed’, or by negative press focussing
on the exceptions. That is why we worked closely
with our milk producers, to make free-range the
norm, rather than the exception.

“Our producers enable their herds to graze
outside for at least 150 days a year, if not more
when the Lancashire weather permits. The next
closest standard is Waitrose, which has a 120-day
ancashire Farm Dairies was established in period for milk.
1984 by current managing director Azhar
Zouq and his father. Now a second “With free-range, we have encouraged higher
L generation family business, Lancashire welfare in the dairy system, which is expected to
Farm Dairies is one of the fastest growing grocery reduce stress across the cow’s lifetime, allowing for
brands in the UK. high quality, plentiful milk production, creating a
more sustainable supply chain.
The dairy company had humble beginnings as a
fruit and vegetable stall on Rochdale market, “We know this is something our customers want.
before branching out into wholesale yoghurt. We have looked towards free-range eggs as an
example, which are still outgrowing their category,
After spotting a gap in the market during the early
1990s, Azhar and his father decided to make their with most retailers committing to removing battery
own Lancashire Farm natural yoghurt. farms eggs by 2020.

Employing 200 local residents, Lancashire Farm “We are able to offer a premium to our farmers,
Dairies is based at premises on Kingsway providing them with a more sustainable milk price,
Business Park. that supports them through market volatility and
extremes of weather. As a result, we have increased
The company now has a turnover of £33 million, our supplier base on the back of free range,
continuing to grow by 20% year-on-year. meaning we are able to work with, and support
more local family run farms.
In 2009, major retail supermarkets picked up the
products, stocking its quality yoghurts in Asda and “Our focus is on farmers and free-range
Tesco. Now, its products are sold all over the UK proposals, which is why we made the move to
AZHAR ZOUQ and are stocked in all Asda and Iceland stores. 100% free range.”

The dairy company has picked up numerous awards, topping the bill at this year’s summer shows in Lancashire Farm’s natural bio 1kg tub remains one
Yorkshire and Nantwich, where the Lancashire Farm brand – and sister brand Pakeeza – picked up nine of the company’s best sellers, thanks to its versatile
awards and two high commendations for its cream, lassi and yoghurts. nature, but also partly to a consumer shift away
from the processed and sugary competition.
In 2018, the company became the first UK yoghurt manufacturer to commit to using free-range milk,
sourced from 20 Lancashire farms. Lancashire Farm has developed its own free-range standard with a The brand’s most recent release also reflects this,
150-day ‘grazing guarantee.’ This allows cows the freedom to benefit from roaming the fields, whereas a with the switch to free-range and fat-free Greek-
higher number could mean the herd is outside in harmful cold and wet conditions. style yogurt, low in sugar and high in protein.

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