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Yoghurt & Other Dairy Product Processing in the UK - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Harry Dee Harry Dee London, United Kingdom Last Updated: September 2024 SIC C10.519

Revenue

£1.0bn

2024-25

£1.0bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

£XX.Xm

Employees

2,832

Businesses

95

Wages

£XX.Xm

Yoghurt & Other Dairy Product Processing in the UK industry analysis

Changing consumer tastes and volatile ingredient prices have created turbulent conditions for dairy processors in the past few years. Yoghurt and dairy production revenue is projected to rise at a compound annual rate of 0.4% over the five years through 2024-25 to £1 billion, including growth of 2.2% in the current year. Price changes have also brought about profit volatility, as cost pressures from supermarkets have limited dairy processors' ability to hike prices. Following the pandemic, the market was shielded by strengthening retail demand as sales to food-service operators collapsed, but revenue still edged downwards in 2020-21. However, the market has recovered swiftly off the back of rising dairy prices.

Trends and Insights

  • Ever-growing health consciousness elevates sales. Awareness of health and wellness in the UK is expanding, playing perfectly into the hands of yoghurt processors, as yoghurt is a popular, healthier alternative to other sweet treats.
  • Health consciousness drives processors to innovate new products. To keep up with changing consumer tastes and habits and new health trends, yoghurt and other dairy processors must develop new products that satisfy consumers' needs.
  • London’s diverse consumer base supports yoghurt sales. The region’s dense population and large consumer base allow processors to make a range of products tailored to specific consumer tastes.
  • Big-name dairy processors dominate the market. The biggest processors make up a big chunk of the industry’s revenue, benefitting from economies of scale, brand loyalty and reputation.

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  • Critical performance data and rankings
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 0.4 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated £1.0bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Growing health consciousness protects yoghurt sales

  • Rising health and wellness awareness in the UK has inflated interest in low-fat, low-sugar and high-protein yoghurt varieties as an alternative to other sweet food products.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Yoghurt & Other Dairy Product Processing in the UK
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Environmental concerns encourage a sustainability drive

  • Climbing environmental consciousness and tightening regulation mean sustainability will be a key concern for yoghurt processors in the future — if it isn’t already. Sustainability has become a core concern for UK consumers, pushing companies in the yoghurt and dairy product processing industry to adopt more eco-friendly practices.

Biggest companies in the Yoghurt & Other Dairy Product Processing in the UK

Company
Market Share (%)
2025
Revenue (£m)
2025
Yeo Valley Farms (Production) Ltd
223.7
Muller UK & Ireland Group LLP
194.2
Lactalis Nestle Chilled Dairy Company Ltd
67.0

To view the market share and analysis for all 5 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Yoghurt & Other Dairy Product Processing in the UK
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Flavoured yoghurt, Plain yoghurt and Whey. Flavoured yoghurt is the largest segment of the Yoghurt & Other Dairy Product Processing in the UK.

Trends and Insights

Health-conscious consumers turn away from flavoured yoghurt

  • This segment includes any yoghurt product with added flavours, including sugar, fruit, nuts and cereal grains.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

This industry covers the production of fermented milk-based products other than liquid milk, cream, butter and cheese. Yoghurt, creme fraiche, sour cream, milk-based soft drinks, yoghurt drinks, powdered milk, whey, casein, rennet and lactose are all included.

What's included in this industry?

Flavoured yoghurtPlain yoghurtWheyMilk powder

Companies

Yeo Valley Farms (Production) LtdMuller UK & Ireland Group LLPLactalis Nestle Chilled Dairy Company Ltd

Purchase this report to view all 5 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

OWN-LABELWHEYKEFIRSKYR

Industry Code

SIC 2007

SIC 10.51/9 - Yoghurt & Other Dairy Product Processing in the UK

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Ever-growing health consciousness elevates sales. Awareness of health and wellness in the UK is expanding, playing perfectly into the hands of yoghurt processors, as yoghurt ...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Health consciousness drives processors to innovate new products. To keep up with changing consumer tastes and habits and new health trends, yoghurt and other dairy processors...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets
  • International Trade

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level
  • Total imports, level and trend
  • Total exports, level and trend
  • Trade Balance

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024
  • International trade, including imports by country and exports by country

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
  • Recent trends in import and export volumes, country of origin or destination, and expected future trends

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

London’s diverse consumer base supports yoghurt sales. The region’s dense population and large consumer base allow processors to make a range of products tailored to specific...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Europe, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Big-name dairy processors dominate the market. The biggest processors make up a big chunk of the industry’s revenue, benefitting from economies of scale, brand loyalty and re...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Yeo Valley innovates to remain competitive. The company has launched new yoghurt flavours and reduced sugar levels to meet consumer demand for healthy snacks and keep hold of...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of Yeo Valley Farms (Production) Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Muller UK & Ireland Group LLP's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Lactalis Nestle Chilled Dairy Company Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for 2 additional companies

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Yeo Valley Farms (Production) Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Muller UK & Ireland Group LLP, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Lactalis Nestle Chilled Dairy Company Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for 2 additional companies

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

Demand from supermarkets sways sales. They’re where most people get hold of their yoghurt – that’s why revenue tends to closely map trends in the Supermarket industry.

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

A spike in milk prices ate into profit. Milk is the key input into dairy products — it significantly determines processors’ costs. Milk prices soared in 2022-23, denting prof...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Liquidity Ratios (2018-2022)
  • Coverage Ratios (2018-2022)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2018-2022)
  • Operating Ratios (2018-2022)
  • Assets (2018-2022)
  • Liabilities (2018-2022)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Yoghurt & Other Dairy Product Processing in the UK industry in United Kingdom in 2024?

The market size of the Yoghurt & Other Dairy Product Processing in the UK industry in United Kingdom is £1.0bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Yoghurt & Other Dairy Product Processing in the UK industry in 2024?

There are 95 businesses in the Yoghurt & Other Dairy Product Processing in the UK industry in United Kingdom, which has grown at a CAGR of 0.2 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Yoghurt & Other Dairy Product Processing in the UK industry in United Kingdom grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Yoghurt & Other Dairy Product Processing in the UK industry in United Kingdom has been growing at a CAGR of 0.4 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Yoghurt & Other Dairy Product Processing in the UK industry in United Kingdom over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Yoghurt & Other Dairy Product Processing in the UK industry in United Kingdom is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Yoghurt & Other Dairy Product Processing in the UK market in United Kingdom?

The biggest companies operating in the Yoghurt & Other Dairy Product Processing market in United Kingdom are Yeo Valley Farms (Production) Ltd, Muller UK & Ireland Group LLP and Lactalis Nestle Chilled Dairy Company Ltd

What does the Yoghurt & Other Dairy Product Processing in the UK in United Kingdom include?

Flavoured yoghurt and Plain yoghurt are part of the Yoghurt & Other Dairy Product Processing in the UK industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Yoghurt & Other Dairy Product Processing in the UK in United Kingdom?

The company holding the most market share in United Kingdom is Yeo Valley Farms (Production) Ltd.

How competitive is the Yoghurt & Other Dairy Product Processing in the UK industry in United Kingdom?

The level of competition is high and steady in the Yoghurt & Other Dairy Product Processing in the UK industry in United Kingdom.

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Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in the UK include:

  • Office for National Statistics
  • Office for Budget Responsibility
  • Bank of England

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

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