Cheese factory and cafe in the heart of Hawkes Bay wine country

The Te Mata cheese factory and cafe is not far from Havelock North village. Photo / Supplied

A property housing the award-winning Te Mata cheese factory and cafe on a 2ha block at the gateway to the Tuki Tuki Valley in Hawkes Bay is being marketed for sale as an opportunity to gain a foothold in the Hawkes Bay tourism and dairy products industries.

Located on the corner of Te Mata and Te Mata-Mangateretere Rds, 3km east of Havelock North village, the property is part of the popular Landscapes Ride on the Hawkes Bay Cycle Trail.

The surrounding properties are used for viticulture, olive production, and lifestyle, with close neighbours including the renowned wineries of Craggy Range, Te Mata Estate, Black Barn Vineyards, and Askerne Estate.

The purpose-built cheese factory has a building area of 294sq m with an additional 55sq m of factory facility space.

The factory and cafe were completed in 2005 and, when operational, produced up to 135 tonnes of white-rind, blue and feta cheese a year. Both the factory and cafe closed in April, with the continued rise in milk prices cited as a contributing factor. The property is on the market through Bayleys, with expressions of interest closing on September 21 through Rollo Vavasour, commercial and industrial agent for Bayleys Havelock North.

Included is a 130sq m three bedroom 1930s house that is used for office accommodation and which has an additional 33sq m veranda.

The property has 2010 capital valuation of $2.3 million, including $1.62 million worth of improvements and the annual rates are $13,428. "This property can be moulded into a number of different options for investors," Vavasour says. "For those looking to join the tourism industry, this is an ideal opportunity as all the investment and work in setting up the business has been taken care of, and all the applicable consents are in place.

"Alternatively, for those wishing to derive rental income, there is already interest from tenants wishing to lease the cafe premises. There is also additional land available which is currently unused, but which could potentially be utilised for additional revenue opportunities."

The factory, located to the rear of the cafe, contains the required components for cheese production including a milk tank, cheese room, pasteurising room, brining room, storage equipment, three curing rooms, packing room, main chiller, as well as a dry goods packaging room.

Equipment contained in the sale includes a 2000-litre milk pasteuriser, a cheese vat, a milk silo compound with milk pump, gas water heater and chemical dosing pumps.

The fully licensed cafe contains a large predominantly open-plan seating and service area, with the kitchen positioned at the eastern corner behind the service counter.

The cafe auditorium measures 99sq m, while the kitchen is 27.5sq m.

Vavasour says the cafe would benefit from the Hawkes Bay Regional Council's decision to direct a cycle trail past it.

He says a purchaser could sell locally made cheeses at the nearby wineries and farmers market. The land is predominantly level, with vehicle access available from both road entrances.

bayleys.co.nz