The original Sorbie Creamery was built in 1891 by United Creameries Ltd.
In 1974 the Sorbie Cheese Co. Ltd. was established by a consortium of S.C.W.S and Unigate – Unigate and C.W.S. having 51% and 49% of the shareholding respectively.
The consortium built a new factory on a green field site. The re-routed A746 passed over the site of Sorbie’s old Creamery.
The new creamery produced cheddar in 20kg. blocks.
Resulting from the cheese production, a screening and separation plant was installed. It produced butter from the separated whey cream.
The new creamery, like its counterpart at Mauchline, was closed in 1990 as part of the rationalistion that followed a joint venture between SMMB (60%), SCWS (20%) and Unigate (20%). The joint venture’s central purpose was to save Stranraer’s Galloway Creamery, which at the time had gone into receivership. Part of the cost was the closure of Sorbie.
In 1996 the former creamery was occupied by Galloway Granite Works and other work spaces were on offer. Today a part of the building is used by an auto repair business. The rest lies derelict.
