Kenilworth dairy farming family bucks trend and secures future for sixth generation
- molly510
- Aug 27, 2019
- 1 min read
There has been no end to bad news for Australia's dairy industry, but one Queensland dairy farmer is defying the trend and boosting tourism for a small country town.
After decades of lobbying processors, supermarkets and government on behalf of his fellow farmers, John Cochrane took the 'if you can't beat them join them' approach and bought a run-down cheese factory in Kenilworth two years ago.
In that time he has expanded Kenilworth Dairies' range to 26 soft, blue, waxed and specialty cheeses — with a focus on using local ingredients like ginger and macadamia — as well as mousses, yoghurts, and ice-cream.
The products are sold to national and independent supermarkets.
But it is his success in drawing tourists from across Australia, who hover over his cheese tasting trays and beside filled rows of fridges and the factory's cafe, which is proving to be a winner.
"I've got the mortgage on the place, I'm the dairy farmer," Mr Cochrane said, as he introduced himself to his visitors.
Comentários