Austrian cheese maker reports record year for goat milk cheese

The fast-growing popularity of goat milk cheeses has helped one of Austria’s most innovative dairies Die Kasemacher (The Cheesemaker) predict a record turnover for the present year. Managing director Hermann Ploner reckons on an 8% rise in sales which should bring the 2011 turnover up to a neat EUR25 million. Ploner says 40% of production is now being exported and that business is so good that a 10% increase in sales has already been chalked in for next year. The dairy, which has two plants based in Lower Austria producing around 1500 tonnes of cheese annually from goats, but also from sheep and cow milk, will need the expected earnings – the foundation for a new cream and slicing cheese production plant has already been laid and this should be opening in mid-2012. The cost is around EUR5.5 million for the additions.

Ploner, whose dairy also specialises in antipasti products based on peppers and other vegetables with cream cheese fillings, plans part of the new dairy building as an events centre and demonstration dairy for the public.