It’s coming home! (Caerphilly Cheese, that is …)
A YOUNG farmer’s plans to revive Caerphilly cheese-making in its traditional location have been boosted by winning a package of tailored business support from Menter a Busnes.
Huw Rowlands of Cwmni Caws Caerfilli (Caerphilly Cheese Company) wowed the judges with his innovative idea and business acumen. He will receive £1,000 from Menter a Busnes and a package of support from Cywain to develop the cheese-making business.
Huw said: “I’m over the moon, and I am hugely thankful to Menter a Busnes for the scholarship opportunity, and I look forward to developing the business further with support from Cywain.”
With his business partner, Deian Thomas, Huw plans to re-ignite a local cheese-making tradition and provide dairy farmers with an opportunity to add value to their milk.
A member of Gelligaer YFC, 25 year-old Huw has a food sector background and comes from a farming family with experience in cheese-making.
A hard, crumbly, white cheese, Caerphilly was originally developed for miners in the area as it matured more quickly than cheddar. Among Cwmni Caws Caerfilli’s aims will be to promote the cheese’s heritage and the Welsh language.
Currently, there are no other businesses making the world-famous cheese within the Caerphilly County Borough area.
Huw said: “Bringing Caerphilly Cheese production back to the area is essential to the history of the product and also the tourism in the area.
“We see thousands of visitors a year coming to Caerphilly but there isn’t a business located within the county creating something that the locality is known for.
“It’s been a lot of work and late nights to get to this point, but we are proud to say Caerphilly cheese is coming home.”
The first-rounds of judging took place at YFC County Federation level, with the finalists put through their business paces by a judging panel at the Royal Welsh Winter Fair.
The judging panel included Huw Bryant – Welsh TV…
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