NZ Dairy Autumn 2021

28 | nz dairy FRESH MILK » Andrea & Stuart Weir: Real Milk Timaru Real Milk – they’re lapping it up Andrea and Stuart Weir, from Real Milk Timaru, say their fresh milk home delivery service has gone from strength to strength. Karen Phelps S ince the Covid-19 lockdowns Real Milk Timaru’s home delivery service has gone from strength to strength, increasing by 30%. “It was the convenience factor during lockdown of having milk delivered direct to the door. We’re still picking up new customers every week,” says Stuart Weir who runs the business with wife Andrea from their Glenwillow Farm in Timaru. The fresh, non-pasteurised, and non-homog- enised milk is delivered two nights a week to Timaru town and to Waimate, Fairlie and Pleasant Point weekly. Just like the good old days people leave their empty glass bottles at the gate and freshly filled bottles are delivered. If people are not home they can stipulate the milk be left in a garage fridge or chilly bin. “People love the fact there is no wastage and it’s the best milk they can get. It’s what everyone wants to get back to,” says Stuart. The Weirs are in their seventh season supply- ing themilk direct to consumers. They started the business after a number of people enquired at their farm about buying milk. Their milk is also dispensed via vending machines in their retail shop with customers serving themselves and pay- ing via the machine. Real Milk Timaru has grown steadily and now accounts for about 15% of their business. It’s a side business to their supply of Fonterra but gives them more control over the return of their product by adding value to it. It’s a labour of love. The Weirs keep 15 of their cows separate, which are milked once a day, for Real Milk Timaru. These cows, which are typically their lowest somatic cell count cows and lower end producers, are milked before the main herd. “People love the fact there is no wastage and it’s the best milk they can get. It’s what everyone wants to get back to.” • to page 30