Page 29 - Food&Drink Jan-Feb 2022 magazine

AWARD WINNER
All the hard work was recognised, with the company winning 14 gold and silver awards at this year’s Dairy Industry Association of Australia (DIAA) Awards. On top of this recognition were four special DIAA Awards presented at the end of 2021.
Its Lavato, a taleggio style cheese that only they produce in Australia, won three awards including highest scoring non cheddar cheese, highest scoring cheese smear ripened or washed rind, and most outstanding show exhibit.
And Helen Ritchie, who has been part of the That’s Amore cheesemaking team for 10 years, was named Champion Cheesemaker of the Year.
Ritchie began curating and developing the specialty range of Lavato, white mould and blue cheeses that received so much recognition at the DIAA Awards.
“When we win these awards, it is just so rewarding to have
our hard work and the products we produce recognised.
“We work so hard every day to develop and produce the very best cheeses, using milk from local dairy farmers.
“It was especially great that two products from the organic range we launched last year won awards as we are very proud of these cheeses,” Linguanti says.
AN ORGANIC SWITCH
The company uses organic milk for its range of five organic cheeses and Linguanti says it was not a difficult decision to add an organic range to the mix.
“The rennet and starter cultures we use are already organic certified, so there has not been much of a change in our processes.
“We use milk from the same kind of beautiful Jersey and Frisian cows we use in our standard cheeses, but from organic sources. Then, one day a week, we switch to all organic
The specialty range, developed by Helen Ritchie, who was awarded DIAA Champion Cheesemaker in 2021.
production,” he says. While the pandemic has
curtailed in-store presentations, sales are still on the rise, with Linguanti saying the demand for organic products is high.
“People are being careful about what they buy. Organic products ask a premium price, but our range only has a small price increase because our processes don’t change dramatically,” he explains.
Linguanti’s drive to educate consumers and share his
passion saw the creation of a deli on site. What started as a deli with one table ended up needing an extension built onto the facility with room to seat 120 people.
Its success was the catalyst for another new venture, Cannoleria, a cannoli brand with five outlets in Victoria.
From just one product, Linguanti has built a cheese powerhouse offering almost 65 varieties, pleasing cheese lovers everywhere ✷
DAIRY BUSINESS
FULLY AUTOMATIC ROTARY LEVEL FILLER CAPPER
HIGH THROUGHPUT HIGH ACCURACY LOW FUSS
A Subsidiary of the Trepko Group of Companies - Denmark
1800 198 701 | sales@thermaflo.com.au www.thermaflo.com.au
AUSTRALASIAN AGENTS FOR FILMATIC & TREPKO
www.foodanddrinkbusiness.com.au | January-February 2022 | Food&Drink business | 29