“The LEO was extremely supportive and has financially supported this business and the brand getting off the ground”

Knockanore Farmhouse Cheese in the rich West Waterford countryside produces a hard-pressed mature farmhouse cheese made in the cheddar style using raw milk, along with red and white cheddars, flavoured with garlic, herbs, black pepper and chives, as well as its famous Oakwood smoked cheddar.

Eamonn Lonergan, founder of Knockanore Farmhouse Cheese learned his respect for nature from his parents, who started with just four Kerry cows. Eamonn, first with his father and then his wife Patrica, patiently built up a top-class pedigree Friesian milking herd that today is 180 strong. 

They recognised they had a uniquely high-quality product and instead of just sending the milk to the local co-op, they decided to make high quality cheese instead.  Eamonn had enrolled in a cheese making course at UCC and there gained the knowledge, skills and insight into cheese-making. Then in 1987, Knockanore Farmhouse Cheese was born.

Edward, the next generation of Lonergans to join the business is just as passionate and just as ambitious as his father Eamonn. Using the resources, contacts and experience of Knockanore Farmhouse, Edward has teamed up with Ireland’s premier Artisan Pizza brand Sorrento Pizza and its founders Stephen Carr & Giorgio Lisi, to form Blas na Italia. They are ready to launch their new brand ‘MOZ’ early this year. ‘MOZ’ is an exciting new Irish artisan mozzarella cheese.

Edward explains the plan for the brand’s development, “The business’s initial customer base will be domestic, with a strong focus on the Irish food service sector, where there is a clear and growing demand for high-quality fresh mozzarella.

Looking ahead, there is significant export potential. Knockanore Farmhouse Cheese is already successfully sold in the UK, France and Canada, and the business plans to leverage these established export relationships as it scales. However, for the first two years of operation, the primary focus will remain on building brand awareness and growing sales in the domestic market, ensuring a strong foundation before expanding further into export markets.”

This ambition was not ‘licked off the stones’, Edward speaks of his father’s passion and drive, “The whole family works hard to produce the very best quality milk and then transform it into cheese. Eamonn spends a lot of time managing and improving the farm and has through careful selection and breeding established a dairying herd that is second to none. A deep understanding and connection to the environment is inbuilt in Eamonn and he does his utmost to maintain his land and his animals with respect.”

For years Knockanore Cheese have been receiving support from the Local Enterprise Office in Waterford. Mentoring, training, and most importantly financial support from the LEO has helped them develop the business, its brand and its burgeoning reputation.

“Way back, we availed of Lean for Micro assistance, which was excellent in helping us develop our management skills and recognising how to make improvements to increase productivity and profitability.  We also accessed the Agile Innovation Fund which helped us greatly in the development of a new product range.” Explained Edward.

“The LEO was extremely supportive more recently with a Priming Grant for our new product, and has financially supported this business and the brands getting off the ground. This wouldn't have been possible without that support.”

Local Enterprise Office Waterford is here to help you start a business, expand an existing business or reach new markets. It provides advice, information and supports in starting up or growing your business as part of a network of 31 Local Enterprise Offices across Ireland. 

Contact your Local Enterprise Office Waterford for their latest training programmes, grants and events schedule on www.localenterprise.ie/Waterford or email info@leo.waterfordcouncil.ie for access to all their training support information.

To find out more about Knockanore Cheese see, www.knockanorecheese.com