Italian dairy giant Granarolo acquires West Horsley Dairy

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Granarolo has acquired West Horsley Dairy Ltd

Source: Granarolo

Granarolo said the move was specifically aimed at boosting customer reach, particularly across the London market

Italian dairy giant Granarolo has acquired Surrey-based West Horsley Dairy in a move it said would “strengthen” its operations in the UK.

The Bologna-based company announced the total acquisition of the dairy distributor on 27 October, although the sum has not been disclosed.

With West Horsley Dairy Company comes its 73 employees and a fleet of 43 refrigerated vehicles that deliver throughout London and the southeast of England, reaching around 500 customers, mainly in the hospitality industry. It reported a turnover in the region of £16m in 2024.

“Consolidation in the UK is an important part of the group’s growth policy abroad,” said Granarolo chairman Gianpiero Calzolari.

“The plan is to significantly increase the volume of Italian dairy products in the UK, focusing on the horeca [hospitality industry] and foodservice markets in London, where West Horsley has consolidated its presence.”

“We are confident 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,” said Philip and Catherine Colton in a statement concerning the sale of the company they founded in 1992.

The Italian company’s subsidiary Granarolo UK Ltd manages its operation in the UK, which saw significant expansion in 2018 with the acquisition of Midland Food Group.

In January, the company made its largest-ever investment in the country with a £10m head office and distribution centre in Willenhall in the West Midlands.

Granarolo accounts for 12.8% of Italian dairy exports to the UK and achieved a volume growth of 8.6% in 2025 compared to 2024.

“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,” said Anthony Bosco, CEO of Granarolo UK.

Worldwide, the company accounts for nearly 10% of total Italian dairy exports. It also said overseas sales will account for 40% of total sales in 2025.

In its strategic plan for 2026-29, Granarolo said it has “prioritised internationalism” and has focused its attention on the European target markets of the UK and Germany.