Standards & Accreditations

Quality

Knockanore Farmhouse Cheese was established in 1987 to produce a range of speciality cheeses made from unpasteurised milk. We use only fresh creamy raw milk from our own top quality pedigree Friesian herd grazing in the green pastures of the Knockanore Valley. Like the farm, quality is the keynote in the cheese plant and the art of cheese making has been perfected by our dedicated staff, some of whom have been with us since the very beginning. From 2013 to 2015, we invested in new state of the art equipment, and in extending and modernising our cheese making facility.

HACCP

We operate a comprehensive HACCP system which includes rigorous systems and controls. Each staff member is fully trained under the guidelines set out by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI).

BRC

We are the only raw milk cheese making facility in Ireland to have achieved BRC accreditation and we pride ourselves on our combination of artisanal tradition with modern, safe techniques. In our most recent audit in April 2021, we achieved the highest possible grade in BRC – which is AA status.

Sustainability

We are verified members of the Origin Green Scheme, which is a commitment to improve sustainability throughout all aspects of the business from social and community to environmental factors.

Testing & Inspections

Comprehensive microbiological testing is carried out continuously by an INAB (Irish National Accreditation Board) laboratory off-site, thus ensuring that all cheeses leave our plant at optimum quality and safety. Rigorous regular inspections are carried out by the BRC and our multiple clients.

Farm Management

We farm on 200 acres of land and keep 150 in our herd, usually milking 120. Our herd is closed for the most part. We have spent decades building up a herd of pedigree Friesian cows. Our aim is to work with nature as much as is possible and so we use minimal amounts of pesticides and chemical on our lands and we do not rely on antibiotics for the health of our heard, rather we use intervention judiciously and only when absolutely necessary

Milking

Our milking parlour is equipped with the latest technology to ensure first class standards in all aspects of hygiene. We can milk 12 cows at any one time.

Milk Transportation

We have a direct link from our parlour pumping fresh milk straight to our production unit.