Creamery cash pours in
The crowdfunding campaign by dairy farmers trying to save Campbeltown Creamery has smashed its initial and secondary targets in just 72 hours.
The effort is part of a bid by 29 Kintyre dairy farmers to buy out the creamery from First Milk, which plans to close it.
In 2018, First Milk announced plans to sell Campbeltown Creamery as part of a move away from smaller-scale brands.
This created an opportunity for a farmer-led buyout, aimed at saving the creamery and securing its future and the production of the award winning Mull of Kintyre cheddar.
The group is encouraging suppliers, customers, businesses and anyone with a love of cheese to contribute, with further information available at www.crowdfunder.co.uk/ mokcheddar
Pledged
Already 943 supporters have pledged their cash to the cause, helping to raise £86,688 at the time of going to press.
One of the lead farmers, Thomas Cameron, said: ‘It has been the most incredible week for dairy farmers in Kintyre.
‘We have been absolutely overwhelmed by the support and love that our supporters have shown our beloved Mull of Kintyre cheese and Kintyre itself.
‘The monetary donations received from the campaign to date are an essential part to help us fund the takeover. These donations have totally surpassed our expectations and continue to do so.
‘We have exceeded our £50,000 target in less than 72 hours.
‘As a result, we would like to stretch our campaign target to £80,000 to further help us fund this process as well as accommodate all those who wish to donate and pass on their messages and stories about what Mull of Kintyre cheese means to them.’
Thomas explained how the additional funding would be used: ‘When we, the dairy farmers, take over, we are effectively starting afresh.
‘It will take nine months for us to produce our first batch of cheese ready for consumers. This is due to the maturation period of turning the grass-fed milk supplied by Kintyre dairy farms into the award- winning Mull of Kintyre cheddar we all love. As a result, this will require a large amount of funding to produce the cheese without having the sales of the finished Mull of Kintyre cheddar.
‘This funding is being met by a number of different sources, with one of the largest sources being the farmers themselves. Other sources of funding are likely to come from loans/borrowing.
‘If we can reduce the amount of borrowing required, the business will be more viable and as a result more likely to succeed in the long term.
‘That’s where the stretch funding of our campaign comes in. It will help to reduce the amount of money required to be borrowed by the new business.’
He added: ‘We cannot thank our supporters enough for their generosity so far and hopefully the success of this campaign and the amazing comments on it will help to encourage funders and retailers to align themselves with this unique, award-winning product.’