A cheddar champion trifecta could be on the cards for an East Coast cheese company after its cheddar was adjudged the country’s best for the second year running.
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Bay of Fires Cheese was named cream of the crop by a 24-judge panel at the Australian Grand Dairy Awards last week, fending off competition from a host of other gold medal-winning cheeses from across the country.
Owner Ian Fowler said he had felt slightly more at home at this year’s award ceremony after taking out the cheddar category in 2016.
“To be in the same room as multinationals and people with a lot more resources behind them... last year I really felt out of place but this year, it fills you with a lot more confidence that you're doing the right thing,” Mr Fowler said.
The ex-Englishman said he hoped the win would benefit the East Coast region as a whole.
“It's Bay of Fires on the cheese label and we're spreading over Australia, it's good recognition for the area - however you want to look at it it's good news all round.”
Mr Fowler also paid tribute to his team, who he said had been integral to the company’s success.
“I make the cheese but there's no way all this has happened on my own.
“It all comes back to the guys out on the tractor looking after the paddocks, to the guy milking (the cows), to the guy making it into cheese and then half the trouble once you've made it into cheese is looking after it.
“There's a whole heap of people who are good at what they do, it's a really good team effort and we've got some good people around to make it happen.”