About BV Dairy

Our Heritage

At the start of 2024, BV Dairy became part of First Milk, the regenerative farmer-owned co-operative, to secure the next phase of growth and the future for the business. But our story goes back a long way before that.

In fact, BV Dairy’s roots hail from a farm at the head of Cheddar Gorge in Somerset, where the founding Highnam family started out. After a brief spell in Luton, where Jack Highnam met his wife Audrey, they moved to a dairy farm in North Dorset. They started to bottle milk on the farm and deliver it to the surrounding towns and villages. As the business and their family of four sons grew, they eventually moved to Old Rectory Farm, in the village of Kington Magna, near Gillingham, Dorset.

In 1958, having sold their dairy herd, Jack Highnam and his son Christopher formed Blackmore Vale Farm Cream Ltd. with Chris’ younger brother Ed opening a pig farm on adjacent land to use the surplus skimmed milk from the dairy operation. The products in the early years were different types of cream, with particular emphasis on the family’s signature product: Dorset Clotted Cream. This product was recognised in 1965 with First Prize at the Royal London Dairy Show and the recipe is used to this day.

In 1985, with an ever-expanding business needing new premises the company relocated to the present BV Dairy site at Wincombe Lane in Shaftesbury, Dorset. Jim Highnam, joined the business in 1991, becoming MD on the retirement of his father, Christopher, in 2001 and now works as as an advisor to the First Milk Team, supporting on aspects of the BV business. In 2026 we were proud to be included in First Milk’s B Corp certification.

Today, BV Dairy operates from a modern, purpose-built site with advanced processing capabilities from yogurt production to a dedicated bottling line. We also manage our own fleet of vehicles, delivering fresh dairy products across the UK from our on-site chill store. Continued investment in our people, innovative technologies, and an ambitious sustainability programme ensures we remain at the forefront of British dairy manufacturing.

ABOUT BV DAIRY

Award-Winning Dairy

Since our Clotted Cream took First Prize at the Royal London Dairy Show in 1965, BV Dairy has consistently earned recognition for the quality of our products.

Most recently, we achieved outstanding results at the 2025 British and Irish Cheese Awards, where we proudly won six Golds and one Bronze — a medal for every product we entered!

We pride ourselves not only on product quality, but also on our customer-focused approach. By listening, collaborating, and adapting to your needs, we ensure that we maintain relationships with our customers that last for years. Our customer survey from summer 2024 confirmed this, showing just how much our commitment to quality and consistency continues to resonate.

About BV Dairy

Our Community

We believe in giving back to the community that supports us and are proud to play an active role in the local area, participating in events, initiatives, and partnerships that help make a positive impact.

We regularly attend careers events at local schools, helping to inspire and support the next generation in their career journeys.

We are also proud to be involved in much-loved community events such as the North Dorset Cycle Ride, the Swimathon in partnership with local primary schools and the Rotary Club, and the popular Gillingham & Shaftesbury Show.