A group of people has gathered outside Guernsey Dairy campaigning against a decision for the plant to stop producing cheese.
The dairy said it stopped producing cheese earlier in the year to make room for other “essential operations” and new “industry standard equipment” which was set to be installed in the area previously used for cheese production.
Islander Luke Warr, who helped organise the protest, said he had to do something try to save the “most beautiful” cheese.
Guernsey Dairy operations director Andrew Tabel said he appreciated some people were disappointed but the decision was made for “operational reasons and only after careful consideration was given to alternative options”.
‘I was heartbroken’
The decision to stop the production of cheese came after a condition assessment of the dairy in 2024, which found the factory did not have enough space for new machinery that was needed.
Mr Warr was part of a group of five protestors and said he was “heartbroken” when he found out.
He said: “I’ve been to many different places and the cheese is nothing compared to Guernsey cheese. We’ve got the best cows in the world, the best milk in the world, the best butter in the world – so I don’t see why we need to get rid of the cheese.
“I was heartbroken, I’m still trying to figure out what cheese I’m going to buy when all the Guernsey cheese runs out.”
‘Promotes the island’
Mr Tabel said the decision to stop making cheese had enabled the dairy to “significantly increase” butter production, which has led to greater exports with about 125,000 additional packs annually.
“As a result, this promotes the island, our dairy industry, and the Guernsey breed”, he said.
He also urged people to take care around the site, and that “protest activity does not obstruct or compromise the safe and effective running of the business”.
“We remain committed to supporting our local dairy industry, working closely with the Guernsey Farmers’ Association and other stakeholders whilst continuing to supply the island with high quality dairy products”, he said.
Protestors handed out Guernsey cheese to drivers and wore t-shirts with slogans related to the product including “keep it local” and “all I want is cheese”.
Mr Warr said: “Everybody’s been beeping their horn, it’s been lovely.
“Hopefully we’re going to try and change their mind and then they might be able to go back and then think to themselves ‘can we actually do something to save this cheese’ because it’s that good, ” he added.
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