Speaker:- George Heler

     We were treated to a very interesting talk by the third generation of the Heler family, George Heler.

Full of interesting facts and extensive knowledge of his family business and the company’s industry, that being wholesale cheese manufacturing and retailing, George informed us that Heler’s Cheese was now run by the third generation of the Heler family with previous management being his Grandad, Joseph, the founder and George’s father Mike.

The company’s achievement of getting to the third generation of management is something only 5% of family businesses achieve. This was of particular interest to second steward of the day Tim Bowker, who is the second generation manager of his family business.

George informed us that Heler’s Cheese was now the largest independent manufacturer and supplier of cheese in the UK, supplying household names such as Tesco, Morrisons, Asda and German retailers Lidl and Aldi.

Their factory just outside of Nantwich employ’s many local families, with Father or Mother, Son or Daughter enjoying the privilege of working for such a caring business. However, the employment is made up by 30% Eastern European’s.

The Heler family have been processing milk from local farms within a 30 mile radius for many years and believe to be consistent in paying a fair and reasonable price to farmer’s for their milk. With all the milk collected and processed they produce 1 Kg of cheese for every 10 Litres of milk. The waste of the milk known as Whey is the used to produce many products such as Whey protein used in health products and baby milk.

The company’s business plan is to tap into the Whey product market, particularly in the USA. Providing proof that the local company is really flying the flag for Cheshire business not only nationally but globally too!

George thanked the Rotary Club of Nantwich for inviting him to give an in-sight into his family business and Rotarian Tim Bowker proposed a vote of thanks to George.