The family run business described a year of “change and innovation”
Investment in production lines at its North East base has supported Prima Cheese as it grows turnover and profits.
The County Durham-based maker of shredded cheeses for the restaurant and takeaway market has posted new results showing an improved mix of customers has also helped it make gains. Documents covering the 52 weeks to the end of March 2025 show Prima grew turnover by 5% to £108.9m and operating profit was up 7% to £5.6m.
The family-run business has been making multimillion-pound investments into its North East factory where it turns out about 600 tonnes of cheese every week, destined for markets in 50 different countries. It estimates that about six million pizzas are topped with its cheese every week in the UK.
Co-CEO Nima Beni, who runs the business alongside sister Nagma Ebanks-Beni – the children of the founders – said: “Continued modification and investment in the state of the art production lines has been instrumental to achieving further flexibility, customer satisfaction and increased efficiencies. The period was one of change and innovation for the company as the directors continue to invest in its branding.
“IT systems, plant, people, and fleet of new trucks and trailers. This continued investment was required to ensure the company could achieve its mid to long term strategic goals, The directors are investing further in innovation through research and development and are confident this will make the company more efficient, versatile and offer a greater range of products to existing and new markets.”
Mr Beni went on to say that investment in the firm’s London office – its hub for all commercial and marketing activity – continued through 2025, where teams were established and embedded within the wider company. Prima launched the North London base in 2024 as part of an effort to further exploit international markets.
In the summer of 2025, Prima revealed a new branding which it said reflects its growth from a top pizza cheese processor in the UK to a major supplier to the international foodservice, food manufacturing and export markets.
The branding effort included measures to demark its range of products including grated, shredded, cubed and diced cheese. Its fleet of delivery trucks was rewrapped with the designs and carrying playful slogans which the company described as “moving billboards” that help it standout when on the UK’s roads.
Accounts show the majority of Prima’s turnover is derived in the UK with £83.8m booked domestically, compared with £3.1m in Europe and £21.9m from the rest of the world. Within the review, bosses warned of continued price volatility thanks to rising energy prices and uncertainty stemming from the war in Ukraine.
