Famous for its artisan cheeses, its wine, and their adorable goats and their residential Goat Tower, Fairview has now launched a plant-based range of cheeses and ice cream too.
With a reputation as a business that is rooted in family and heritage, the new plant-based range tells a story of how the business is building on its current offering to meet changing customer requirements. Charles Back, a third-generation family owner of Fairview, explains, “As a brand, we have always been sensitive to our customer requirements, and it is with great excitement that we can say our family is growing with a delicious range of plant-based cheeses and ice creams. Our customers are changing their eating habits and we have seen an increased demand for plant-based products. Introducing the plant-based range just seemed like the logical next step for us because keeping our customers happy is at the core of what we do.”
Discovering the range
The new Fairview offering is rooted in goodness, with cheese products offer delicious, plant-based alternatives to everyone’s favourites – meltingly-moreish mozzarella, tangy cheddar, velvety cream cheese, bold parmesan and distinctive feta.
For those with a sweeter tooth, there is also plant-based ice cream in eight mouth-watering flavours ranging from peanut butter chocolate chip, coffee chocolate swirl, nut brittle, strawberry cheesecake, and cookie dough.
Charles says, “This new range allows us to offer our customers more options and opens the door for people with dietary restrictions or allergies. It’s also about understanding that our customers are sensitive to animals and the environment and want to be more flexible with their dietary choices. Mindful eating is what it’s about – from garden to plate.”
Sustainability is at the core
Fairview has always been forward-thinking, hosting the first wine auction in South Africa in 1974, becoming the first goat’s cheese producer in the country, and pioneering the blue and white mould innovation. The farm isn’t only focused on innovation though, believing that sustainability needs to be at the core of the business and they have gone to great lengths to ensure this.
All of the Fairview wines, for example, are Be-Veg-certified vegan, while Fairview has also cleared the entire Paarl Mountain of alien vegetation, which resulted in the indigenous Fynbos coming back and establishing itself.
“With Fynbos being a natural nesting bush, more birds were attracted to the area, while other wildlife such as porcupines, duiker, steenbok, and rooikat returned,” shares Charles. “We have also cleared the Van Wyk’s river of alien vegetation. It runs through the farm, and we set aside a 300-400m strip next to the river to re-establish Fynbos and for wildlife to move around safely.”
“Our policy at Fairview is a closed circle of life – being rooted in family, community, and tradition. These roots sprout from our soil to animals, our products, and staff,” he continues.
The plant-based range was a natural extension of this philosophy, and, according to Charles, is only just the beginning: “We are always growing and already looking at plant-based alternatives to our existing cheese range. Perhaps plant-based Camembert or Brie? Who knows?”
Where to find it:The plant-based dairy range from Fairview is available at the Fairview farm shop and at selected retailers around the country.
First and foremost, Fairview is a working farm, housing a collection of micro-businesses all sharing in a common goal – to create artisanal and sustainable produce, with a focus on fine wine and cheese. Everything we do is driven by our philosophy of being honest, honouring our heritage, and ensuring that ingenuity perpetually flows from our soils and cellars and straight into the heart of your relationship with us. After all, at, we do things differently.
What: Fairview plant-based cheeses and ice cream
Where: Fairview Wine and Cheese, Suid-Agter Paarl Road, Suider-Paarl, Cape
Info: www.fairview.co.za, +27 21 863 2450
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