Case Studies
Issue No. 44 - December/January 2008
Recipe for success? Say Cheese
Industry deregulation in the mid-1990s transformed many dairy farming enterprises. For Dan and Krystyna McCaul of Mt Jagged, it was a turning point. The McCauls faced a decision: get big, buy more land, build a new dairy parlour and milk 1000 cows; or get out and find a new career off-farm.
They took the third choice. In 2001, they switched from milk to cheese production and launched the Alexandrina Cheese Company.
For daughter, Rebekah McCaul it was the perfect time to join the family business, a decision she maintains was “entirely her own”.
Aged 21, with a Bachelor of Technology (Ecotourism) degree from Flinders University she helped commission the factory. Now she is Marketing Manager of a thriving enterprise.
“Since the launch into the local market the response has been amazing; it has been a satisfying journey,” she says.
Although optimistic about the farm’s potential, Rebekah is realistic.
“The business ambition is simply to grow the business at 20% per annum, to be profitable and a market leader. We have a vision for a sustainable business model which promotes a triple bottom line (economic, environmental and social) approach,” she says.
“There are key issues facing agriculture in the next three to five years - increasing cost of production and input costs. We also need to keep abreast of technology and innovation to assist our business model; environmental factors are having an impact.
“With the cur...
