THE old co-operative cheese factory at Wauchope is on an upward trend with three times more milk coming through the door than last year at this time.
The centenary-old factory was purchased by Tuscany Cheese off Sungrow in August 2015 and this year celebrates a new lease of life under the banner of Real Dairy Australia group, which now incorporates, Tuscany Cheese and Brisbane based Total Food Tech.
Real Dairy Australia, which controls the supply chain from paddock to plate, not only makes quality deli-style cheeses but also shreds and packs commodity product for major retail chains, food service distributors and quick service restaurants.
In the past year the Wauchope factory increased intake from 4m litres off four dairy farms to 12m litres from 14 producers, all in the Hastings Valley region.
Company spokesman Ben Bouchet said no dairy producers were approached to join the burgeoning business rather they knocked on Real Dairy’s door first.
“Real dairy is very aware of the fact that the region commands a premium price for milk and in return is gearing the Centenary old dairy to manufacture a range of products that accommodate the required milk pricing,” said Mr Bouchet.
Real Dairy’s Wauchope factory, next to the railway, pays above industry standard for milk fat solids, averaging out around 50 cents/litre and there are expectations that as equipment is improved the demand for milk with suitably high protein and milk fat will double to 30m litres.
Production includes ricotta and feta in its soft cheese line and aged products in the Italian tradition like Romano and Pepato.
There is a new push into yoghurt, in a range of flavours and traditional styles, which are within weeks of product launch – container labels are being printed now.
“We prefer to steer clear of commodity cheeses,” said Mr Bouchet. “We see the more specialty lines of products being produced at Wauchope as an opportunity.
“We are fortunate in that the skills required for cheese making were already at the dairy, with a couple of the cheese makers having been on site for a period greater than 35 years.”
In the last 12 months, since the acquisition from previous owners Sungrow, eight new employees have been introduced to the process with an ongoing training program to develop new skills in cheese and yoghurt making.
Mr Bouchet said Real Dairy would like nothing better then to be able to increase the capacity of the factory, resulting in much more milk production within the region and generating greater opportunity for more local employment.
The Wauchope cheese factory was a critical part of community infrastructure for most of its 100 years with cans of cream originally coming into the factory by boat along the Hastings River and product shipped to Sydney by rail.