Located in the heart of the Waikato at the foot of
the Kaimai Ranges, the home of Kaimai Cheese is well steeped in dairying
history and tradition –
The rich fertile area opened up for European
settlement late in the 19th century and a distinguished gentleman by
the name of Josiah Clifton Firth became the first European landowner of the
Matamata region. He quickly realised that the rich fertile area was ideally
suited to dairying.
In 1886, after laying the foundation for the
Waharoa settlement, Josiah Firth built the first Waharoa Dairy Factory. That
first year of production at the Waharoa Dairy Factory saw 25 tonnes of butter
and cheddar manufactured on the site. Defined even then as "First Quality”, it
commanded the highest prices in the newly developing Auckland market.
Today the new Kaimai factory stands in the village
right alongside where the traditional factory once proudly stood all those
years ago – it’s this pioneering tradition and pride of place that Kaimai looks
to as a source of inspiration for its cheese flavour and quality.
Kaimai aims to present cheeses that are
quite simply world class. The quality and taste essentials – freshness,
flavour, taste, texture and aroma – will turn the otherwise ordinary experience
into something special.