Dairy manager Andrew Tabel, left, with Paul Queripel and one of its new tankers. (Picture by Peter Frankland, 0908421)

GUERNSEY Dairy is to get a £2m. upgrade during a five-year investment programme.

The money has become available after the States-owned facility starting making a profit. It made about £443,000 in 2008 after recording a loss of nearly £221,000 in 2007.

This turnaround came after several loss-making years and general manager Andrew Tabel said the Dairy had continued its upward trend to post another profit last year – although the accounts for 2009 have not yet been finalised.

Mr Tabel said the success of the business in recent years enabled it to carry out a much-needed capital expenditure programme.

‘If we make a profit we can actually invest that back into our facilities,’ he said. ‘We made a profit in 2008 and we have a projected profit for last year as well. That is part and parcel of funding our capital investment programme.’

The turnaround occurred after the independent Milk Price Review Panel decided on an increase in late 2007.