Cheese making business matures

Fowlers are the oldest cheese making family business in England and are continuing the traditions of handcrafted cheeses at the dairy in the lush pastures of Earlswood, Warwickshire.

The same care and traditional skills used in Derbyshire and handed down since before 1840 to the 14th generation are producing its Gold and Silver award winning cheeses today.

It manufactures and sells its cheeses at various farmers’ markets across the UK, stockists and online farmer’s shops. 

Fowlers Forest Dairies are traditional cheese makers who produce authentic cheese from its own milk for a niche market. The business found out about the grants by ringing Shire Hall and speaking to an officer from the Warwickshire Rural Growth Network Programme.  The dairy received a grant for £15,000 from the Rural Growth Network for new dairy and cheese-making machinery.

It is thanks to the grant that Fowlers are now able to increase its employee numbers by one full-time person and by the end of 2016 it will employ another member of staff.  The dairy already has part-time members of staff but the number of full time personnel has now risen to seven.

Adrian Fowler said: “We take pride in our environment and ensuring high standards of animal welfare that produces great milk and even better cheese. The benefits will be long lasting for the dairy and will provide greater health and safety for employees as well as continuous production and continuity in presentation enabling sustainable growth. The grant from the Warwickshire Rural Growth Network has made a huge difference to my business already.”