New Bothwell factory running again

Old cheddar, squeaky curds and smoked parmesan is being packaged up again at the site of the award-winning factory in New Bothwell.

Last month, the plant closed down after a fire damaged the inside of the building, causing the whey-processing section of the facility to halt its cheesemaking duties.

The production resumed to near-full capacity on June 27 after nearly a month of limited work, with all Bothwell Cheese products back on the production line.

“Thanks to the swift and coordinated efforts of our team, the dedication of Bothwell Cheese employees, and the support of local community partners, we are thrilled to announce that production has resumed at Bothwell Cheese,” said Suzanna Dalrymple, president and CEO of Gay Lea Foods, the company that owns Bothwell Cheese. “One of Canada’s most beloved cheese brands is officially back in production.”

After the fire on June 1, the storefront re-opened on June 12 with limited product, and testing for the production began June 24.

“There is no doubt this has been a challenging time for our co-operative, our employees, our customers, and the Dairy Farmers of Manitoba, who re-routed milk to other facilities during the disruption,” Dalrymple said. “But thanks to the efforts of the Hanover Fire Department, our dedicated employees and the support of the local community, our Bothwell team has been able to get back to doing what they do best – making exceptional cheese.”