Bidlea Dairy scoops four international gold awards for ice cream

Bidlea Dairy was honoured when judges named their two-year-old heifer, Bidlea Truffle champion cow at the Royal Cheshire County Show.

Bidlea truffle named champion cow at the Cheshire Show (Image: Supplied)

Sam Jackson, 16, also picked up two rosettes for a lineback, Bidlea Pampoose, as reserve champion for animals bred on the farm.

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Sam Jackson picked up two rosettes for Bidlea Pampoose, named reserve chamopion for animals bred on the farm (Image: Supplied)

A week later, the Goostrey dairy scooped four golds at the International Cheese and Dairy Awards.

Judges awarded gold for their double cream, and chocolate, vanilla and lemon and ginger ice creams.

Becky and Adam Brown won four golds at the International Cheese and Dairy Awards (Image: Supplied)

The lemon and ginger ice cream was also named overall champion.

The Brown family has run the dairy farm at Orchard Farm in Twemlow for three generations.

Ray and Jill remain at the helm whilst son Adam and wife Becky run the dairy and son Ryan and Becky look after the farm.

Ray and Jill Brown and their family at Orchard Farm (Image: Supplied)

Adam said: “We feel very honoured with everything.

“We cannot take all the glory ourselves, it’s truly a team effort from everyone in the dairy and on the farm and of course our wonderful herd.”
The Brown family in the early days, from left, auntie Sheila, nan Madeleine, grandad Clifford, Ray and Jill (Image: Supplied)

Adam and wife Becky only came up with the idea of making ice cream when their business was struggling to cope with a drop in demand during lockdown.

Sales of fresh cream plummeted as pubs, cafes and restaurants closed.

The Brown children when they were younger, from left, Ryan, Adam and sister Melanie (Image: Supplied)

Just six months after launching their new enterprise, the family won their first four gold awards at an international competition.

“We saw the opportunity, invested in new dairy equipment and it’s seemed to have been the right thing,” said Adam.

“We work hard and managed to turn things around.

“The main reason we built the dairy was to secure a fair milk price so we’re in control of it and not dictated to by supermarkets.

“What makes our ice cream so special is that it is made from milk and cream from our own Holstein Fresian herd.

Bidlea cows washed and ready for the show ring (Image: Supplied)

“Our cows produce free range milk with a high butter fat which makes a big difference to the cream.

“Milk is pumped through an overhead pipeline direct from the milking parlour into the pasteuriser.

“It doesn’t come into contact with any humans. There are no milk tankers.

“Everything is local, fresh and traceable.”

Grady Alderdice leads Bidlea Truffle into the ring followed by Melanie Brown with Bidlea Pampoose (Image: Supplied)

The family now runs a dairy processing plant, shop and café, alongside the farm.

“We employ around 50 staff, including 19 family members,” said Adam.

“We all get on so well.

“We get a buzz out of seeing our products on the shelves.”

During the pandemic, the family supplied locals with milk, eggs and bread.

“We never intended doing a doorstep delivery service,” said Adam.

“But when the older generation couldn’t come to us, we thought we’d go to them.

“People remember us helping them and have stuck with us.”

Seems the future of this resourceful, caring family business is secure.

Adam’s daughter Harriet, three, joined cousins Maisie, two, and Emmie, four, to make their debut at the Cheshire Show.

The trio spent weeks preparing their pet calves Bang, Ariana and Rachel for judging at Tabley.

Proud gran Jill said: “The girls had a lovely day.

“There were a lot of children in the novice handlers but they coped very well and all came away with a highly commended rosette.”

Adam’s grandparents Clifford and Madelene founded the farm with just 20 cows.

The family now manages a 1,000-strong herd.

Adam said he felt honoured to judge the dairy awards at this year’s Royal Highland Show.

Adam Brown said he felt 'honoured' to be invited to judge the dairy awards at this year's Royal Highland Show (Image: Supplied)

“We drove up to Edinburgh after the Cheshire Show. We learnt a lot by judging,” said Adam.

“I’m sure nan and grandad would be very proud of what we have all achieved.

“Every year we think we can’t possibly do any more but we are becoming busier and busier.

“The business is growing naturally.

“We are doing volume but we keep everything very artisan.”