Monday 2nd September 2024
30 Facts about Yeo Valley Organic
Over here at Yeo Valley HQ we’ve been busy prepping for a BIG birthday… Yeo Valley Organic turns 30 this year! Since 1994, Yeo Valley has been flying the flag for all things organic, and we thought what better way to celebrate than to share 30 fun facts about us! After all, you only turn 30 once…
1. The Yeo Valley Organic brand was founded back in 1994 by the Mead family, who can trace their farming ancestry back to the 15th century.
2. We’re named after the River Yeo, which runs through the valley where it all started on the Mead family farm.
3. We’re the largest organic brand in the UK consumed by over ten million households a year. But don’t worry it doesn’t go to our head. We’re as passionate today as when we started.
4. Do you remember the rapping farmers of 2011? We do, and frequently hear it being hummed around the office. It was even hummed on Clarkson’s Farm – Series 2, episode 1 – go back and give it a watch.
5. We’ve also got our very own disco, DJ themed ice cream van! We love everything moo-sical.
6. In 1972, Roger and Mary Mead tried their hand at making yogurt with leftover milk from the clotted cream they produced for their tearoom.
7. Did you know that our first flavoured yogurt was strawberry? (Obviously after launching our thick and creamy organic natural yogurt).
8. Our herdsmen and -women on our farm in Somerset all know our cows by name. Some of our favourites are NomNom and Barbara (but sshhh don’t let the others hear us say that!)
9. We’re passionate about soil down here at Yeo and did you know that soil stores three times more carbon than the atmosphere and all the world’s plants and forests combined. Wow!
10. Did you know that there are more living creatures in a single teaspoon of healthy soil than there are people on Earth? Now that’s a fun fact.
11. Over 130 British organic farms now supply us, to make sure all that organic goodness is delivered straight to your favourite store.
12. Our pedigree British Friesian cows here in Somerset graze on our herbal leys, which is a mixture of chicory, oxeye daisy, clovers, cow parsley, buttercups and veitch.
13. Organic farms love dung beetles. Did you know they have been estimated to contribute more than £350 million per year to UK agriculture, as soil engineers, climate enhancers, and pathogen reducers? Pretty nifty.
14. Did you know we make more than just yogurt? We sell cream, ice cream, soup, cheese, butter, milk and much more.
15. We are passionate about regenerative organic farming which helps build healthy soil which is one of the ways we can fight climate change, all while providing people with healthy nutritious food. Now that’s food for thought...
16. Did you know you can come and visit the ‘real’ Yeo Valley? You’re welcome anytime (well almost) to visit our farm, enjoy some delicious food in our canteen, or wander around our beautiful Organic Garden!
17. Our Organic Garden is six and a half acres of Soil Association certified ornamental and edible plants in a seasonal patchwork.
18. In 2021 we entered the RHS Chelsea Flower Show with our very own organic garden and came home with gold!
19. A-moo-sing fact for you - no cow has identical markings!
20. Timmy Time features on some of our Little Yeos packaging - see if you can spot him next time you’re in your local supermarket!
21. Did you know that we look after 2,000 acres across the Mendip in Somerset.
22. We were the first in the UK to make our yogurt pots from 100% recycled plastic and they are fully recyclable. It’s called a closed loop and we think that’s fabulous.
23. Our best-selling yogurt is our famous green potted whole milk Natural Yogurt.
24. Did you know milk was considered ‘food of the gods’ in ancient cultures. Many cultures throughout the ages, spanning the globe, placed milk in their foundational myths and highly-valued it. We salute that!
25. Every year you help us donate over £14,000 to charities and causes close to your heart with your Yeokens.
26. Did you know that there are Yeo fans with over 20,000 Yeokens. Now that’s what we call legendairy!
27. Did you ever hear about the Yeo fan who stitched all their Yeo Valley Glastonbury Festival bags together to make a quilt. We thought it was moo-velous.
28. We are still very much a family-owned business.
29. We have 6 operational sites across the South-west that enable us to produce our wide range of products.
30. It’s our 30th birthday this year!
