Over 50 businesses gathered in the sunshine to celebrate the launch of Three Hills Gelato which is being made in partnership with an award-winning Cumbrian farm.
The event was the latest of the monthly LA23NET business networking events and everyone attending not only got to taste the new gelato, but also the cheese made at Torpenhow Farmhouse Dairy.
The evening also included a chance to hear from farm owners Jenny and Mark Lee about how they have transformed the farm and used the organic milk from their Jersey/Friesian herd to make their renowned cheeses.
Now they have teamed up with Matthew Stockwell who learned his gelato making skills in Italy, and brought the traditional Italian techniques home to Cumbria. Together they have launched their venture: Three Hills Gelato.
The name is derived from Torpenhow and all the amazing flavours such as whisky marmalade or blueberry crumble are made on the farm.
Matthew was delighted with the response from the business people who queued up to try his gelato. “We are thrilled for the successful launch of Three Hills Gelato at the LA23NET event in Torpenhow.
“The response from everyone has been overwhelmingly positive, with great enthusiasm for our unique gelato offerings.
“Three Hills Gelato is proud to be 100 per cent Cumbrian, made in north Cumbria by a small team of passionate local people. We exclusively use delicious organic milk and cream sourced from the farm right here at Torpenhow – that means it only travels a few metres from the field to our production unit.”
Attendees also got to hear from Craig Brough, land agent at Hopes Auction, and Robbie Tuer from Aspatria Farmers who both spoke about the pressures faced by Cumbrian farmers and how the kind of diversification of Torpenhow Farmhouse Dairy was a good example of how to create a more sustainable business model.
Among those attending was Martin Hounsby, of NXT Recruitment who are one of LA23NET’s sponsors. “It has been a very well attended event and with the farm tours and visits into the cheese and gelato making areas we’ve learned a lot as well as enjoyed some delicious food.”
LA23NET organiser Helen Statham, co-founder of Intro PR, said: “We’ve really enjoyed bringing so many businesses together to learn more about the amazing story behind this farm and to see how their cheeses are made.”
The next LA23NET – which is also sponsored by The Cumberland, Harrison and Drury and Edwin Thompson – will be a garden party at Hutton in the Forest on June 21 which will feature live music, garden tours and tree bingo.
