Milk champions win coveted dairy industry awards

The much-coveted awards were announced during a festive evening at Haydock Park, Merseyside, for the Dairy UK Doorstep Conference which saw representatives from across the industry come together to celebrate the great tradition of doorstep delivery.

Charlie Thomas, aged 24, was nominated by his Creamline customers and judged by a panel from Dairy UK. The award, sponsored by Delamere Dairy, showcases the very best in the industry, and provides a great opportunity to remind the public of the heritage of the milkman and how they are a unique part of British culture.

Come rain or shine, Creamline milkman Charlie Thomas has delivered hundreds of pints of milk a week to his customers in Sale & Trafford. Charlie said: “I am absolutely delighted to have won the title. I would like to thank all who have nominated me and thank them for their support.

“There’s no other job quite like it. I know my area like the back of my hand and it’s always good to see familiar faces on my route. The community I know and work with are what get me out there – it’s great that I have a job that means I’m so directly connected with my customers. I started to accompany my father on his milk rounds when I was 8 years old – and I learnt that a milkman must be punctual, have an eye for detail, and no matter the weather, smile.”

Dr Judith Bryans, Chief Executive of Dairy UK, said: “Charlie is what doorstep delivery is all about. His customers are his friends and he always goes that extra mile to provide them with great products and service. He relishes the community spirit and provides trustworthy doorstep delivery service that many of our customers, especially the housebound, rely on.”

The second winner of the evening, Roseanne McEwan, Brand Development Manager at Cotteswold Dairy, joined in 2015 and has used initiative to create a brand identity which has made a real impact on the business.

Roseanne said: “I am over the moon to receive this award and thank you for this recognition. I came into my role with no previous experience in brand development and marketing, but I have really enjoyed the creative process of developing a brand identity and creating a whole branding package for a product that I truly believe in.”

Dr Judith Bryans added: “Roseanne is creative, positive and a real driving force when it comes to marketing. She has thrown herself into her role and created a strong brand identity for her company that she should be proud of.”

Nigel Byham, Dairy UK Board member and Director of Byham’s Dairy, said: “Charlie and Roseanne are great ambassadors for our industry – they demonstrate an unwavering passion and enthusiasm for their jobs and I would like to congratulate them both.”

Steven O’Connor, National Account Manager at Delamere Dairy, said: “We are delighted to sponsor the awards this year – both of which recognise the outstanding contribution that people across the industry have made. Doorstep delivery plays such a crucial role in our local communities and creative marketing initiatives are an important way of setting out a successful vision for the future.”

The runner up for Milkman of the Year 2016 was Fred Tandy from Cotteswold Dairy, and runner up for the Marketing & Promotion award was Steve Neary, General Sales Manager from Creamline Dairies.