We firstly had applied for an Innovation Voucher through Invest NI and we had selected Loughry College as our ‘Knowledge Provider’. We got assigned a Food Technologist and got to work on creating our own yoghurt. At the start of our ‘Yoghurt Journey’ we didn’t actually set out to produce a Greek Style Yoghurt. We knew we wanted our yoghurt to contain just our milk and culture – nothing else and we also wanted it to be a thick and luxurious style of yoghurt. In the first few trials, we weren’t achieving the consistency we sought after with just milk and culture (Natural Yoghurt) so we implemented a trial where we strained the yoghurt using Muslin Cloths to remove the whey – just like an authentic Greek Yoghurt. 

Once we tried the yoghurt from this trial we knew this was the yoghurt we wanted to make and sell – it was (and still is) delicious. It was also the lovely thick consistency we wanted.  We carried out our first farm trial in April 2022 which was so exciting and a big learning curve for us to start to learn how to create a new product. Other areas had to be thought of and finalised before we could launch the product; our premises had to be approved for production of yoghurt via Environment Health, shelf life trials, HACCP Plans, Packaging, Labelling and we needed all the correct equipment. 

Finally in July 2022, we were ready and on the 7^th July, exactly 2 years since we started selling Milk we launched Chestnutt’s Farm Greek Style Yoghurt. 

We would describe our Greek Style Yoghurt as quite mild in comparison to others, it has a thick consistency and so creamy making it a real luxurious addition to your fridge. It is a totally natural product containing just our Milk and Culture, there is no added sugar and no other additives or preservatives. 

Our Yoghurt is a LIVE yoghurt as the culture is added after pasteurisation which means it is packed full of friendly bacteria therefore so good for your gut. 

Fast forward two years and our yoghurt is going from strength to strength. We make yoghurt every week and currently supply 12 shops on a weekly basis. Click Here to find out where you can buy our Yoghurt.