Organic North Yorkshire dairy farm launches new yoghurt range – and prepares for BBC1 television stardom
Until recently, the name Stamfrey Farm has been associated with high days, holidays and guilty pleasures. Although the West Rounton farm's 110 Friesians are farmed strictly by organic methods and produce a wholesome 18,000 litres of milk a week, Stamfrey's best-known product is most definitely not an everyday kind of treat.
And that's because owners Sue and Angus Gaudie turn a good proportion of that milk into organic Yorkshire clotted cream – a rich, high quality and, let's face it, unusual product they created partly to assuage Sue's longing for her native Cornwall.
The clotted cream has been widely acclaimed and is sold through farmers markets, delis and independent shops and restaurants and even graces the tables of Betty's. But now there's a new product under the Stamfrey brand – and this time it's a treat in which you can indulge every day of the week.
Stamfrey Farm organic low fat breakfast yoghurt was an innovation waiting to happen. The separating process involved in making the clotted cream leaves behind gallons of skimmed milk – and no matter where they were born, any Yorkshire farmer worth the name surely must find a good use for it.
And so, the Gaudies hatched the idea of making yoghurt. And with the help of the Yorkshire Forward supported Regional Food Group for Yorkshire and Humber (RFGYH), the new venture looks like being another Stamfrey success.
The rapid growth of the Stamfrey Farm brand and the cheerful ease with which Sue and Angus do business belie the hurdles they've overcome to reach this position.
They took the brave step of 'going organic' in 2001 – no easy task in itself. But when the price of organic milk fell and foot and mouth advanced to within 50 yards of their farm gate, the stark truth hit them: they had to innovate or go under.
'During the foot and mouth crisis, we literally didn't leave the farm for seven months,' explains Sue, 'When I look back, I don't know how we did it. But those tough times gave rise to our clotted cream, which has transformed our business.'
She pays tribute to the RFGYH's support and encouragement as they tried to turn a quintessentially Cornish product into a viable Yorkshire business.
'The food group has supported and advised us on technical and marketing issues,' says Sue, 'Their 'Skilfully' workshops have been most informative and the networking evenings have provided us with essential contacts.'
But while she can reel off the tangible gains the RFGYH has given them, Sue says it's the more esoteric benefits that have sometimes been of the most help.
'They've given us encouragement and built us up whenever we've needed it. Part of it is just knowing that if you need more, they're there. You've only got to ask.'
The high profile of Stamfrey Farm has led to another surprising development in Sue and Angus's story. Over the summer, a television crew has been following the ups and downs of life on the farm, including the production of Stamfrey Farm clotted cream and the early days of the new low fat yoghurt.
The footage will form part of BBC1's The Great British Summer, a 4 x 1 hour series which will take a look at the diversity of life and lifestyles throughout the nation. Narrated by Alan Titchmarsh, the programme will air in primetime in November.
'We were astonished to be approached about the series,' adds Sue, 'We're just dairy farmers – although we are very proud of our milk and the products we make from it. We hope the show will help in our mission to promote the wonderful food and drink being produced in Yorkshire.'
