Glastry Farm is set on the rural picturesque Ards Peninsula in Northern Ireland, which has been home to the Taylor family since 1856 and home of the pedigree dairy herd that produces some of the highest quality milk in Northern Ireland ( yearly av-4.34% butterfat, 3.47% protein with total bacteria count in the top 3% in NI).
The Irish translation of Glastry is “the townland of the green pastures” which is a perfect description. The land is lush, thanks to the area’s unique micro-climate which makes it a little warmer than other parts. The lush green grass makes the cows milk taste so creamy and good. Will Taylor and his son, Gareth Taylor are now the fifth and sixth generation farmers.
The farm diversified into the production of ice cream in 2007. After decades of milking the cows, like his forefathers, Will Taylor had a lightbulb moment. He was on an apple farm in Slovenia on a Department of Agriculture trip at the time, investigating the opportunities for agri-food. They were turning their apples into cider and he thought what could I do with my milk to add value?
When Will came home he did a product development programme in conjunction with CAFRE’S Food Technology Centre in Cookstown. Convinced that the farm had to develop for the future and get better value from their product, they expanded their milk production unit and Glastry Farm Ice Cream was born in 2007.The fresh milk is transferred from the milking parlour to the processing facility on the farm, where it is crafted into a range of award-winning ice creams that are sold all over Ireland.
Market research pointed the way forward, with health being a priority. Glastry Farm developed their healthy sorbet range which is vegan, lower sugar and low fat. It is also a source of fibre and contains enhanced levels of antioxidants and omega 3 providing the consumer with added health benefits. Having the highest fruit content in the frozen market, makes the range a market leader. The sorbets have a smooth, creamy texture and are difficult to distinguish from ice cream in terms of mouthfeel. The low fat/lower sugar formulation moves this product from being a palate cleanser between courses to a delicious, healthier dessert option.
We have won many awards over the years such as, Great Taste Awards, Blas na hEireann Irish Food Awards, Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards, JFC Innovation Award, Good Food Ireland Producer of the Year, Grassland Farm of the Year, Northern Ireland Dairy Farm of the Year, Agri-Food Business of the Year… And many more… pretty much every flavour has an accolade…
In the meantime, we’ll keep on milking, churning and delivering across the land and beyond…
Follow our journey on social media. Or better yet, taste the story.
