Cooil’s Dairy Says Thank You to Generations of Customers

After more than 75 years of doorstep milk deliveries, Cooil’s Dairy has made its final early-morning rounds across the south of the Isle of Man.

Juan and Kirstie Hargraves, who have run the family business for the last 17 years, shared their farewell with heartfelt thanks to the thousands of customers who have welcomed their milk, cream, and cheer into homes over generations.

‘Thank you, thank you, thank you! It just doesn’t seem enough to say thank you.

‘So this is for each and every one of you for your fantastic custom and support over the last 75+ years,’ the couple said in a message shared last week.

They noted that while some customers had only enjoyed the service for a short time, others had been with Cooil’s for 50 years or more, and a few for over 60 years.

The dairy has seen its fair share of adventures along the way.

‘We’ve made so many friends over the years, saved lives, moved furniture round and even caught criminals in the act! Maybe we’ve seen things that we can’t possibly repeat or want to remember,’ the Hargraves added.

Cooil’s decision to end the milk rounds, announced in December, comes after careful consideration.

Significant investment would have been needed to continue retailing, and the family now intends to focus fully on farming.

From this month, all milk produced by Cooil’s will go to the Isle of Man Creamery, which will handle processing, packaging, and delivery.

‘We’ve loved our time delivering to our customers and building relationships within the community. We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who has supported us over the years, and we’re sure to still bump into you all around the South,’ Juan said.

The Hargraves also paid tribute to the team who helped keep deliveries running smoothly.

‘Mark, Lorna and Brian came through to the end with us – so hard working and reliable. And thanks to everyone past and present who helped keep this service going.’

While it’s the end of the milk rounds, Cooil’s Dairy will continue farming, focusing on caring for their cows and producing milk for the island.

‘It may be a sad day for many of you, but that just shows how much you valued the service,’ the couple said.