The origin of Cheese is
so ancient that it predates all recorded history. Cheese is perhaps one of the
very few foods which are produced throughout the world. The history of cheese
is dated more than 4000 years old.
so ancient that it predates all recorded history. Cheese is perhaps one of the
very few foods which are produced throughout the world. The history of cheese
is dated more than 4000 years old.
A very famous and old
saying by the French philosopher, gourmand and cheese lover, Jean Anthelme
Brillat-Savarin in the late 1700s goes as “A meal without some cheese is like a beautiful
woman with only one eye”
saying by the French philosopher, gourmand and cheese lover, Jean Anthelme
Brillat-Savarin in the late 1700s goes as “A meal without some cheese is like a beautiful
woman with only one eye”
When we talk about beautiful women, the first and foremost name that come to my mind is Femina, perhaps India’s most popular women’s magazine featuring articles on relationships and various cultural facets of Indian women.
When I got a call from Femina as a
blogger to a visit to one of the most modern cheese plants in the country, I
was elated for sure. Blogging for me is a passion and so is my love for cheese,
and so I set about getting some basic facts on cheese in place, and I was
honestly surprised by some trivia that I picked up:
v There are over 2,000 varieties of cheese – And I had always thought that the cheese I ate
was the only one in the world
was the only one in the world
v Remains of cheese have been found in Egyptian tombs over 4,000 years old –
And I had always wondered why
mommies love cheese.
And I had always wondered why
mommies love cheese.
v The terms “Big Wheel” and “Big Cheese” originally referred to those who
were wealthy enough to purchase a whole wheel of cheese – And I had always dreamt of building up my libido
or knowledge respectively.
were wealthy enough to purchase a whole wheel of cheese – And I had always dreamt of building up my libido
or knowledge respectively.
The visit was to the Go Cheese plant at Mancher, owned by Parag Milk Foods. The trip involving various Women of Substance and several other bloggers was amazing, the welcome and
hospitality as mesmerising as the cheese that they produce.
hospitality as mesmerising as the cheese that they produce.
Though it was my second visit to the Cheese factory, having accompanied a team of food bloggers and media personnel to a traditional Maharashtrian welcome almost a year back, I gladly accepted the invitation this time, since I had the opportunity to be part of the initiative by Femina and be able to witness and express my views on women and their empowerment.
Though the initial travel hiccups which resulted in a delayed start, we were welcomed with some amazing coolants and cheesy snacks to be followed by a brief introduction on the history
of the company and its foray into manufacture of cheese to become one of the
leading producers of cheese in the country.
A short trip to the
nearby cow farm left us spell bound as we saw the professional and the most
modern and scientific method of milking and animal husbandry.
nearby cow farm left us spell bound as we saw the professional and the most
modern and scientific method of milking and animal husbandry.
Coming back to the
plant, we were treated to a sumptuous lunch after which the short rest was
something we were not very keen on.
plant, we were treated to a sumptuous lunch after which the short rest was
something we were not very keen on.
The reason being we were all raring to go
for the visit to the ultra-modern cheese manufacturing plant in the country.
for the visit to the ultra-modern cheese manufacturing plant in the country.
The cheesy affair
continued in the evening with the large spread of cheese and cheese products being
on offer, before we finally bid adieu with a heavy heart to embark on our
journey back to Mumbai with a goodie bag full of cheese and more cheese.
continued in the evening with the large spread of cheese and cheese products being
on offer, before we finally bid adieu with a heavy heart to embark on our
journey back to Mumbai with a goodie bag full of cheese and more cheese.
Ever since I came back,
I cheese-in and cheese-out and had been eager to pen down the story of the most
efficient cheese plant in the country. So, here it goes…
I cheese-in and cheese-out and had been eager to pen down the story of the most
efficient cheese plant in the country. So, here it goes…
The story of Parag Milk
Foods was set in the tiny hamlet of a small village called Mancher in the
outskirts of Pune. Mancher, a village where most of the villagers were engaged
in husbandry for a living ever since the advent of the Operation Flood in 1970,
the farmers used to supply milk to the local co-operatives and very soon, as
expected, supply over-shot the demand, forcing the farmers to throw away the
milk on the forcefully imposed milk-holidays, thus seriously affecting their
livelihood.
Foods was set in the tiny hamlet of a small village called Mancher in the
outskirts of Pune. Mancher, a village where most of the villagers were engaged
in husbandry for a living ever since the advent of the Operation Flood in 1970,
the farmers used to supply milk to the local co-operatives and very soon, as
expected, supply over-shot the demand, forcing the farmers to throw away the
milk on the forcefully imposed milk-holidays, thus seriously affecting their
livelihood.
The initiative to
breathe new life to the village and bring all the milk back home was the
foundation on which this Company was born.
breathe new life to the village and bring all the milk back home was the
foundation on which this Company was born.
Parag Milk Foods
manufactures all its products based on cow’s milk alone starting initially with
the traditional products like the packed and pouched Milk, Paneer, Dahi and Ghee,
the products which are used by every single household in our country.
manufactures all its products based on cow’s milk alone starting initially with
the traditional products like the packed and pouched Milk, Paneer, Dahi and Ghee,
the products which are used by every single household in our country.
The products were
marketed under the brand name “Gowardhan” which very soon went on to become a
brand name synonymous with pure milk and products made of pure cow’s milk.
marketed under the brand name “Gowardhan” which very soon went on to become a
brand name synonymous with pure milk and products made of pure cow’s milk.
The stringent quality
standards that are maintained in the manufacture and packing of its products soon
made Gowardhan into a strong brand equity.
standards that are maintained in the manufacture and packing of its products soon
made Gowardhan into a strong brand equity.
Like everyone else,
Gowardhan too had to move with the times and adopt change to cater to the needs
and tastes of the younger generation. A complete brand revamp with the strategy
to adapt and evolve with the changing consumer preferences promoted the
re-birth and christening of “Go”.
Gowardhan too had to move with the times and adopt change to cater to the needs
and tastes of the younger generation. A complete brand revamp with the strategy
to adapt and evolve with the changing consumer preferences promoted the
re-birth and christening of “Go”.
“Go” as the face of the
brand came into existence in 2009 with the introduction of products that would
sync with the changing taste buds and the open economic scenario. International
products like Yoghurt, UHT Milk and most importantly, Cheese was introduced.
brand came into existence in 2009 with the introduction of products that would
sync with the changing taste buds and the open economic scenario. International
products like Yoghurt, UHT Milk and most importantly, Cheese was introduced.
Every name has a story
behind it and so has “Go”. This two lettered word is derived as an acronym from
the earlier name “Gowardhan” but has actually two different connotations
attached to it, the first being that “Go” resonates like “Gau”, the Sanskrit
word for Cow.
behind it and so has “Go”. This two lettered word is derived as an acronym from
the earlier name “Gowardhan” but has actually two different connotations
attached to it, the first being that “Go” resonates like “Gau”, the Sanskrit
word for Cow.
Apart from being just
an acronym or resonating word, the word “Go” embodies in itself the act of
going, the energetic spirit that we relate to and synergises well with “Get,
Set, Go”, the attitude that describes the beliefs of today’s young generation.
an acronym or resonating word, the word “Go” embodies in itself the act of
going, the energetic spirit that we relate to and synergises well with “Get,
Set, Go”, the attitude that describes the beliefs of today’s young generation.
I and Go do share an
important aspect in common. As writing and blogging is a passion for me, so is
cheese making for Go. With one of the largest cheese plants in Asia today
boasting of an installed capacity of manufacturing 40 MT of the largest
international quality cheese range per day under the most stringent quality
norms, Go Cheese can be relished and savoured by us in probably any hotels,
restaurants and pizza chains across the country, that we could think of.
important aspect in common. As writing and blogging is a passion for me, so is
cheese making for Go. With one of the largest cheese plants in Asia today
boasting of an installed capacity of manufacturing 40 MT of the largest
international quality cheese range per day under the most stringent quality
norms, Go Cheese can be relished and savoured by us in probably any hotels,
restaurants and pizza chains across the country, that we could think of.
When anything is done
with passion, can accolades be far behind? With continuous in-house R&D and
constant innovation, whether in terms of its products, or its packaging and
convenience for the consumers, Go has been the proud recipient of many national
and international awards and there is still a long way to go.
with passion, can accolades be far behind? With continuous in-house R&D and
constant innovation, whether in terms of its products, or its packaging and
convenience for the consumers, Go has been the proud recipient of many national
and international awards and there is still a long way to go.
So let’s all smile and say “Cheese”
When it comes to
Cheese, Go is the only way to go. Yeh Cheez Badi Hai Mast-Mast.
Cheese, Go is the only way to go. Yeh Cheez Badi Hai Mast-Mast.
