Crediton Dairy is a prominent UK-based dairy drinks producer, renowned for its diverse portfolio of high-quality products including chilled flavoured milks, functional dairy beverages, iced coffees, and long-life milks and creams. Nestled in the heart of Devon, the company takes pride in crafting delicious, innovative dairy drinks using milk sourced exclusively from a dedicated group of local, family-run farms.
With a strong commitment to sustainability, provenance, andproduct excellence, Crediton Dairy combines traditional farming values with modern manufacturing practices. Their state-of-the-art facilities and close relationships with suppliers ensure consistent quality and traceability from farm to fridge. As a trusted name in the dairy sector, Crediton Dairy continues to grow its presence across retail and foodservice markets throughout the UK.
Dairy farms are inherently energy-intensive operations, particularly due to the use of milking machines, robotic systems, and refrigeration equipment. Crediton Dairy’s network of ten milk suppliers each had a unique mix of technologies and infrastructure, making it difficult to offer one-size-fits-all advice. The challenge was to develop tailored insights that could help each farm reduce energy consumption while maintaining productivity. Carbon Sense conducted a comprehensive energy review across ten of their milk supplier farms. The goal was to identify opportunities for improving energy efficiency, reducing carbon emissions, cost of energy and supporting the suppliers in their journey toward more sustainable dairy production.
To address the unique energy challenges across Crediton Dairy’s supplier farms, Carbon Sense conducted detailed on-site assessments at ten dairy farms. Each visit included a comprehensive review of milking systems, plant and equipment, energy contracts, and, where available, half-hourly electricity consumption data.
We developed tailored reports for each farm, comparing energy usage against milk production to calculate energy intensity (kWh per 1,000 litres of milk). This allowed us to benchmark performance across farms of varying sizes and technologies. Where data gaps existed, we used industry-standard assumptions to ensure fair comparisons.
Our analysis also evaluated the impact of renewable energy systems, identified inefficiencies in equipment, and assessed opportunities for cost savings through smarter energy contracts and system upgrades. The result was a set of practical, farm-specific recommendations designed to reduce energy use, cut emissions, and improve long-term sustainability.
• Energy efficiency varied widely across farms, with some showing strong performance and others highlighting clear opportunities for improvement.
• High energy use was often linked to robotic milking systems, smaller herd sizes, and outdated or inefficient equipment.
• Targeted recommendations were made, including smart metering, equipment upgrades, and better energy contracts to reduce costs and emissions.
• Carbon Sense connected farms with trusted solution providers, saving the farms time and money using established and trusted partners
