Trevor, Estelle & Lily
Sheree Sullivan
Udder Delights is a family owned and operated business based in the Adelaide Hills. Trevor & Estelle Dunford, along with Saul & Sheree Sullivan, are the faces behind the brand. Together they have displayed a synergy of talents, effort and vision to build a business and brand that is well respected within the food industry on a national level. Udder Delights cheese has been available in the market place since 1999. As each year passes new cheeses are launched, new suppliers bought on, new customers introduced and new skills are learned. The ability to change, take a risk and invest in what we believe has been the catalyst to our success; however it all started so long ago…
“I like goats, I think I might get some.” This thought occurred in 1995, coupled with Trevor Dunford’s desire to generate income off the newly acquired family farm in the Adelaide Hills town of Lobethal. Two goats, aptly named Nell and Nora, began the goat herd. They were hand milked by Trevor and Estelle with their son Andrew helping out. Soon two goats led to forty and hand milking had to make way for machines. Trevor and Estelle found it incredibly difficult securing a contract for their goatís milk, particularly due to the newness of the industry. At times milk went to waste and this birthed the concept of a goat cheese factory that could process the milk produced on the family farm.
Trevor and Estelle went about investigating, and eventually building, the first stage of the cheese factory. Son Andrew had a brainwave of a name while up a tree picking local cherries – Udder Delights. And so it began.
Saul Sullivan
Trevor, Estelle & Stella
Once Trevor and Estelle’s daughter, Sheree Sullivan (nee Dunford), finished her Bachelor of Music she decided to get involved with the family business. At this stage a cheese maker was employed to create an initial range of cheeses, while Sheree created a brand and started to penetrate the market. During mid 1999 the cheese maker decided to move on and at age 21 Sheree took over the management of Udder Delights – which meant doing all the cheese making! Not having a lot of experience in cheese making (8 hours to be precise) Sheree taught herself by reading a lot of books, asking a lot of questions and making a lot of mistakes.
Sheree has since attended several cheese making courses and has a thorough understanding of the cheese making process as proven by her successful track record. Now years later, Udder Delights Cheese is sold extensively throughout Australia and has received numerous state and national cheese awards. Sheree and her husband Saul Sullivan are joint owners of Udder Delights Cheese Factory, along with Sheree’s parents.
Saul & Sheree feeding the kids
Saul and Sheree have taken Udder Delights to new heights by opening the Udder Delights Cheese Cellar in the well known Adelaide Hills town of Hahndorf. Sheree manages the Udder Delights Cheese Cellar, conducting cheesemaking classes and other events. She also oversees brand management and marketing, as well as being a full time mum to Stella and Lily (born in 2008 & 2009 respectively).
Saul Sullivan manages the Udder Delights Cheese Factory and fulfils the role of head cheese maker. Saul is continually expanding the factory and introducing new cheeses, while working with our distributors around Australia to drive sales forward.
Trevor and Estelle Dunford continue to be joint owners of Udder Delights Cheese Factory, and are not milking goats. Our goat and cow milk is now supplied by local dairy farmers.Trevor is responsible for building and maintenance, and is constantly having to think outside the square to work out how to construct the things Saul has dreamt up. Estelle is office manager extraordinaire, as well as being the best Nanna ever!
