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Irish Independent
17-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
New Cork dairy brings back glass bottle milk with modern twist - and it's going viral
Lapland Dairy, situated on the back road between Carrs Hill and Maryborough on the southside of the city, has only been open for three weeks, but their farm-fresh, non-homogenised milk – which is produced and pasteurised on site – has already exploded in popularity across social media. The shop allows customers to buy a glass bottle and fill it up with either plain or flavoured milk, all through automated contactless payments. The couple behind the venture are still distributing much of the milk from their 140-strong herd to co-ops to be used in larger distribution. And they candidly acknowledged that the new project was a gamble. 'We saw it on Ear to the Ground. I was working in quality at the time, and I thought it could work for us with our location,' said Heather Smith, who runs the self-service dairy shop alongside her husband, Melvyn. 'We did a road survey when we were going for planning and found that there's 7,000 cars passing between 7 am and 7 pm, so there was serious passing trade', said Melvyn, whose family have owned the Lapland farm for generations. 'It took a bit of convincing because I had to do the building from scratch, so it was hard going for a while.' However, the hard work has paid off. The farm has a constant flow of people, some newcomers, and some who return with their branded glass bottles from a previous visit, ready to fill up. Heather says the instant popularity has been a huge surprise to the couple. 'Social media has been massive for us, not just our social media but everyone sharing pictures and videos on Instagram, and TikTok is huge,' said Heather, who revealed that former Irish Olympian and 'Ireland's Fittest Family' coach Derval O'Rourke was a recent customer while the name is also doing the rounds amongst the country's best rugby players. 'Most people drink milk, and the novelty of the flavours seems to draw a crowd. We buy a liquid flavour and add it while the milk is being added so it's well mixed. 'The most popular flavours are strawberry and chocolate, but we also have whiskey and cream, Oreo, which is very popular, and salted caramel. 'We have a very popular flavour coming, which is Dubai Chocolate!' 'It's going back to the old times when you used be getting milk in a glass bottle, and it's the flavour as well, you can't beat the flavour of whole milk. You're getting a better product,' said Melvyn, who revealed the 'Lapland' name owes itself to the local townland, and has nothing to do with a certain man in a red suit. 'They say you can't beat the flavour out of the glass bottle!' While the couple says they will bide their time before deciding whether to move to the direct-to-consumer model full time, there are plans to further diversify the business. Melvyn outlined the plans as the queue for the two self-service machines went out the door of the shop that he built himself over the past few years. 'We'll be selling free-range eggs through an honesty box and potatoes as well,' he says, with the blazing sunshine drawing in customers of all ages. 'We're also getting in a coffee machine as well, but things are just crazy at the minute.' 'It's extremely busy,' Heather adds. 'We're open 9 am to 9 pm, and then there's pasteurisation and cleaning to be done outside those hours. 'I don't think we've really thought about what's next. 'You have to be realistic. The numbers that we have aren't going to last forever, so once the numbers start to settle down, then we can start thinking about what we're going to do next.'
Irish Independent
16-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Check out the new Cork dairy that has ‘em coming in droves already for range of flavoured milk
Lapland Dairy, situated on the back road between Carrs Hill and Maryborough on the southside of the city, has only been open for three weeks, but their farm-fresh, non-homogenised milk – which is produced and pasteurised on site – has already exploded in popularity across social media. The shop allows customers to buy a glass bottle and fill it up with either plain or flavoured milk, all through automated contactless payments. The couple behind the venture are still distributing much of the milk from their 140-strong herd to co-ops to be used in larger distribution. And they candidly acknowledged that the new project was a gamble. 'We saw it on Ear to the Ground. I was working in quality at the time, and I thought it could work for us with our location,' said Heather Smith, who runs the self-service dairy shop alongside her husband, Melvyn. 'We did a road survey when we were going for planning and found that there's 7,000 cars passing between 7 am and 7 pm, so there was serious passing trade', said Melvyn, whose family have owned the Lapland farm for generations. 'It took a bit of convincing because I had to do the building from scratch, so it was hard going for a while.' However, the hard work has paid off. The farm has a constant flow of people, some newcomers, and some who return with their branded glass bottles from a previous visit, ready to fill up. Heather says the instant popularity has been a huge surprise to the couple. 'Social media has been massive for us, not just our social media but everyone sharing pictures and videos on Instagram, and TikTok is huge,' said Heather, who revealed that former Irish Olympian and 'Ireland's Fittest Family' coach Derval O'Rourke was a recent customer while the name is also doing the rounds amongst the country's best rugby players. 'Most people drink milk, and the novelty of the flavours seems to draw a crowd. We buy a liquid flavour and add it while the milk is being added so it's well mixed. 'The most popular flavours are strawberry and chocolate, but we also have whiskey and cream, Oreo, which is very popular, and salted caramel. 'We have a very popular flavour coming, which is Dubai Chocolate!' ADVERTISEMENT Learn more 'It's going back to the old times when you used be getting milk in a glass bottle, and it's the flavour as well, you can't beat the flavour of whole milk. You're getting a better product,' said Melvyn, who revealed the 'Lapland' name owes itself to the local townland, and has nothing to do with a certain man in a red suit. 'They say you can't beat the flavour out of the glass bottle!' While the couple says they will bide their time before deciding whether to move to the direct-to-consumer model full time, there are plans to further diversify the business. Melvyn outlined the plans as the queue for the two self-service machines went out the door of the shop that he built himself over the past few years. 'We'll be selling free-range eggs through an honesty box and potatoes as well,' he says, with the blazing sunshine drawing in customers of all ages. 'We're also getting in a coffee machine as well, but things are just crazy at the minute.' 'It's extremely busy,' Heather adds. 'We're open 9 am to 9 pm, and then there's pasteurisation and cleaning to be done outside those hours. 'I don't think we've really thought about what's next. 'You have to be realistic. The numbers that we have aren't going to last forever, so once the numbers start to settle down, then we can start thinking about what we're going to do next.'
The Irish Sun
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
‘Omg how unreal' gush fans as Irish Love Island star teases new show with RTE star in ‘full circle moment'
LOVE Island star Yewande Biala has teased a new TV show with an RTE star. The Meath native, who appeared on the fifth season of the hit reality dating show, took to Instagram today to share her new project she's been working on. 4 Yewande recorded a new project with Darragh McCullough Credit: Social Media Collect 4 Yewande teased her new show over on social media Credit: Social Media Collect 4 Yewande posed for some snaps in Headfort Arms Hotel Credit: Social Media Collect The 29-year-old posed while driving a golf cart wearing a black wind breaker, black thigh-high socks and knee-high black lace boots. The reality star also took a stunning snap with RTE's Ear to the Ground presenter Darragh McCullough. The pair looked happier than ever while sitting on a tractor. read more on rte Darragh wore a navy hoodie, red zip-up jacket, denim jeans, a paddy cap and muddy welly boots. Yewande captioned her post: "Filming my new show in Ireland, "Where I grew up, such a full circle moment." The influencer reflected on her life since her Love Island stent saying: "Moved to London six years ago and now I'm back for a while, showing some very cool people all the fun, charm, and chaos Ireland has to offer. read more on the irish sun "Day one dusted, went to the farm, because duuuh?! Played a bit of (questionable) golf and had meaningful conversations. "Next few months are going to be so much fun." Love Island's Amber, Yewande and Anna say they are hesitant to watch the next Winter series set in South Africa on GMB Yewande's friends and fans all flooded the comment section with praise and support. Ireland AM star Katja Mia said: "Irish treasure." Aisha wrote: "Omg how unreal!! Congratulations girl!!" Dennis commented: "Soo proud of you." Tara remarked: "Omg can't wait to see it!" OH NO After admitting on a podcast years ago that she She said it was something she immediately turned down. Yewande revealed: 'I said 'absolutely not because I am so embarrassed, I don't think I am the right person for it and it's not going to happen'.' But over a year later, when she was asked again, she decided to give it a go in 2023. The show, Secrets of the Female Orgasm, followed Yewande as she looked to see what the blocks are for her pleasure-wise, or if she is in the one per cent of women who will never reach an orgasm. Throughout the show, she learned her upbringing, her culture and religion were emotional blocks for her. 4 Yewande's fans all sent her support for her new project Credit: RTE
