Pioneering Southland Dairy company scoops National Awards

The cocktail dresses and tuxedos were out last week as the New Zealand cheese industry gathered to announce the results of the New Zealand Cuisine Champions of Cheese Awards 2009 at the Sktcity Convention Centre.

Emerging as a top contender was Southland company, Blue River Dairy Products which scooped a haul of awards at the prestigous annual organised by the New Zealand Specialty Cheesemakers Association and judged by an impressive panel of national and international judges.

Diana Hawkins (left) Chairperson NZSCA presents

Blue River's Kathryn MacDonnell & Wayne "Maxi" Robertson with Champion Awards

400 entries submitted from 36 companies battled it out to gain the top honours

Invercargill-based Blue River had an impressive haul of 5 awards including the top award Champion of Sheeps Cheese for their Pecorino style Curio Bay Cheese.

Blue River Sales & Marketing Manager, Kathryn MacDonnell commented “This is a great honour for the team at Blue River recognising the quality of our cheeses amidst some stiff competition ”. We get positive feedback from our customers on a regular basis however, receiving awards from within our industry re-affirms that our products are world class” added Ms MacDonnell

Head Cheesemaker, Wayne Robertson, was on hand in Auckland to receive the awards and paid tribute to the hard-working team in Southland.”We are lucky to have quality ewe’s milk supplied to us locally and a dedicated team at the cheese factory who are committed to producing fantastic cheeses”.

Blue River has been operating from its Invercargill base for 4 years and prior to that in Balclutha from where the Clutha River-inspired Blue River name orignated. The company has grown to become New Zealand’s largest commercial sheep milking operation and is pioneering the sheep’s milk products industry in New Zealand with milk supply coming exclusively from Southland and South Otago farms. Their range of products are inspired from Mediterranean Europe, where sheep millking has existed for centuries, include Feta style cheese, Halloumi a Cypriot style of cheese used in cooking, along with an Italian-style Pecorino cheese, cheddar and soft cheeses.