Good things take time in Waharoa

KELLY SCHICKER/Waikato Times

SLICK WORK: Workers oil the cafe floor at Kaimai Cheese Company in preparation for its January 7 opening.

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Workers are scrambling to finish Kaimai Cheese Company's replica factory and cafe, but cheese lovers are already tucking into its first offerings.

General manager Sheryn Cook said the boutique cheese company started production six weeks ago and had begun supplying specialty food stores such as Moore Wilson Fresh and Kirkaldies in Wellington, and Sabato and Nosh in Auckland. It also supplies the Merchant of Tirau and Cambridge Cuisine in the Waikato.

Production was projected to reach 300 tonnes a year but Ms Cook said the factory was still gearing up and some way from reaching that target.

"We are not at that level yet but it is early days. We are not a volume company we are aiming at small top shelf cheeses."

Ms Cook said, depending on demand, Kaimai Cheese would look at stocking high-end supermarket delicatessens but would focus on trade through its Kaimai Cafe & Store, which would open on January 7.

Part of a $6 million complex alongside the original 1886 Waharoa Dairy Factory, the cafe will feature windows allowing the public to see the cheese being made. Staff numbers would reach 25 once the cafe was operating.

The handmade varieties include white mould cheeses such as camembert and brie, yellow cheeses such as havarti, cheddar and emmental and specialty cheeses such as buttery sweet and savoury tasting washed rouge and the Italian-inspired, full flavoured grana.

Kaimai Cheese issued a share float this year to raise $5.5 million. It brought in close to $12 million in applications. Directors accepted $6.5 million and the company now has around 500 shareholders.

Kaimai Cheese buys about 1000 litres of milk a day from nearby Open Country and former deputy Prime Minister Wyatt Creech is a director of both companies.

Ms Cook said the two producers were separate companies and Kaimai paid market rate for its milk. She expected this to rise on the back of Fonterra's record milk payout which had "lifted the bar" for the industry. But given Kaimai Cheese's lower volumes and premium market this would not affect them greatly.

- © Fairfax NZ News