Dairy Crest, the UK’s second largest dairy company, last month reported a strong performance by its Cathedral City cheese brand, increasing market share as it overcame cost pressures to keep trading in line with expectations.

The group, in a three-way battle with Robert Wiseman and Arla, said its foods division benefited from price rises secured last summer and a significant increase in its own-label cheese volumes with British grocery chains. The dairies part of the group has been under pressure from oil-related cost rises, but this has been offset by price rises.