Serious illness curtails cheesemaker’s ambitions

Yellinson Farm Goats was established in Carleton, near Skipton, a decade ago by Steve Akrigg but he has made the tough decision to sell as he is battling a serious illness.

Mr Akrigg, who has invested around £100,000 in the business over the years, produces two varieties of goats’ cheese, a light and creamy log in two sizes and potted Crowdie, a soft spreadable cheese made to a Scottish recipe.

Both cheeses have won awards at the Great Yorkshire Show and the farmer himself starred in a video series shot by the Yorkshire Agricultural Society for the show last year.

Among his customers have been Michelin-starred chefs Rick Stein, Nigel Haworth and Michael Caines, and Keelham Farm Shop in Thornton, Bradford, places orders on a regular basis.

Mr Akrigg said: “To say it is an extremely reluctant sale is a true understatement.

“I have successfully built the business up over the last decade. Our cheese is now sold nationally, is used by household name chefs and has won awards. It’s been a real passion, a labour of love and I’m heartbroken that illness now prevents me from running the business personally.”

Around 400 litres of milk are produced at Yellinson per week and two weekly cheese runs produce 120kg of product.

Mr Akrigg said: “There is enormous potential to increase production capacity, to develop and expand cheese types and ranges, and even diversify into ice cream-making – that was going to be my next step – and beauty products such as soaps and shampoos, which all use goats’ milk.”

Mr Akrigg is known in local entertainment circles as a member of country and western musical group, Custer’s Last Band, and has starred in ITV’s The Dales.

His 138-strong herd of mixed breed goats, which have an Anglo Nubian influence, are included in the sale, as are the Yellinson milking parlour and all other cheesemaking equipment under a total guide price of £60,000.

Potential buyers would need to dismantle and relocate the business from Yellinson Farm. Interested parties should contact Chris Windle at Windle Beech Winthrop on 01756 692900.