Cow & Gate
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Dairy, Infant nutrition |
| Predecessor | West Surrey Central Dairy Company Limited |
| Founded | 1888 |
| Founder | Charles Arthur Gates, Leonard Gates |
| Fate | Merged with United Dairies in 1959 to form Unigate plc |
| Successor | Unigate plc (now Uniq plc) |
| Headquarters | Guildford, Surrey , United Kingdom |
| Products | Milk bottling, distribution, infant nutrition products |
| Owner | Numico (subsidiary of Danone) |
Cow & Gate originated as a British dairy enterprise that later diversified into milk bottling, distribution, and the manufacture of infant nutrition products. In 1959, it combined forces with United Dairies, creating Unigate plc, which is currently recognized as Uniq plc. The Cow & Gate name persists as a dedicated baby food brand, now owned by the Dutch company Numico, a subsidiary of Danone.
West Surrey Central Dairy Company
After the passing of grocer Charles Gates in Guildford, Surrey, in 1882, his sons Charles Arthur and Leonard assumed control of the family shop. This establishment held the local franchise for distributing Gilbey's wines and spirits, alongside selling beer. Embracing the principles of the temperance movement, they phased out alcoholic beverages in favor of tea and coffee. By 1885, fully committing to temperance ideals, they disposed of all their alcoholic inventory.
With their premises cleared, they transformed the shop into a dairy business called the West Surrey Dairy. Utilizing a milk separator, they procured milk from nearby farmers to separate cream and whey, returning the skimmed milk for use as pig feed. By 1888, additional relatives joined the venture, prompting formal incorporation under the name West Surrey Central Dairy Company Limited. The company quickly expanded through acquisitions of creameries in England’s prominent milk-producing West Country counties like Somerset and Dorset, followed by growth into Ireland.
The company’s early branding derived from markings found on its distinctive light-brown milk jugs, depicting a cow peering uneasily through an unusual four-barred gate.
Baby foods
In 1904, Dr. Killick Millard, Leicester’s medical officer of health, approached the company to provide powdered milk aimed at supporting children from impoverished families. This request led to the introduction in 1908 of "Cow & Gate Pure English Dried Milk," a high-protein product that received wide promotion. By 1924, Cow & Gate had formulated an export variant designed for tropical climates and established Dried Milk Products Company Ltd to supply dried milk wholesale to food manufacturers.
The firm adopted the name Cow & Gate officially in 1929. Throughout the 1930s, it worked closely with healthcare professionals to create specialized infant formulas catering to particular needs, including:
- Frailac: formulated for premature babies
- Allergiac: designed for infants with sensitivities to cow’s milk components
- Cereal products intended to facilitate earlier introduction of mixed feeding
Expansion
Following World War I, WSCDC went public on the London Stock Exchange under Bramwell Gates, son of Walter Gates. Bramwell spearheaded growth through acquiring creameries and bottling facilities across Britain, beginning with Wallens Dairy Company located in Kilburn in 1924. Over the next decade and a half, operations extended throughout Cornwall, Lancashire, Yorkshire, and large parts of Wales. To efficiently manage regional distribution from these locations, the company created its own logistics division, which eventually developed into Wincanton Transport, now one of the UK’s leading transport organizations.
In 1933, WSCDC secured a controlling stake in Canada’s General Milk Products. This strategic acquisition enabled Cow & Gate to sustain export activities during World War II despite government restrictions on food exports by utilizing Canadian production to meet international demand.
Unigate
In 1958, Ernest Augustus Taylor took over as chairman from Bramwell Gates and orchestrated a merger with United Dairies, which was the largest dairy producer in the UK at that time. This merger, finalized in 1959, resulted in the creation of the publicly traded company Unigate, strengthening their position in the marketplace.
Cow & Gate Infant Milk for Hungrier Babies
Cow & Gate promotes its Infant Milk for Hungrier Babies as designed for bottle-fed infants who require more nourishment, containing a higher casein concentration than typical formulas. Nonetheless, pediatricians warn that this product might lead to digestive issues, constipation, and possible kidney stress due to slower digestion rates. No scientific studies have confirmed that it enhances infant sleep quality or fullness compared to standard infant formulas.