The Publication For The Grocery Trade

Right Royal Celebration at Yeo Valley

It isn't known if the Queen starts the day with a Yeo Valley Organic yogurt, but Yeo Valley started the day with the Queen onFriday July 20, when the country's leading organic food company was honoured with a visit by Her Majesty and His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh. It was the first time that the Royal Family had visited North Somerset for more than 20 years. After winning two Queen's Awards for Enterprise for its contributions to sustainable development, including the long-term, fair-trading support it has given to organic dairy farmers, Yeo Valley was delighted that the Queen decided to come and see for herself what makes the company so special. She was greeted by local schoolchildren, who'd been invited by Yeo Valley to share in the day, before taking a tour of the dairy, situated in the middle of Yeo Valley's farmland. During the tour she met some of the product development team, saw Yeo Valley's yogurts being made and packed, then met more of the employees in the company restaurant, where organic meat and vegetables from the company's farms are served. Said Yeo Valley Managing Director, Tim Mead: "We've always taken great pride in the Queen's Awards, which we regard as being recognition that we are good custodians of the countryside, have been instrumental in encouraging hundreds of dairy farmers to become organic and are also producers of great yogurts, but the Royal visit is the jewel in our crown. "For the Queen and Prince Philip to visit us and meet so many of our team has been a once in a lifetime event. Everyone working here has been looking forward to the day and has taken pride in it. "It's been an occasion we will all remember with pride for many years to come." Yeo Valley Organic Tel: 01761 462798 www.yeovalleyorganic.co.uk