Aurora Cheese is a family-run business that has been at the forefront of organic cheese production for more than 40 years. “Organic entrepreneurship is in our DNA,” says co-founder Harry ten Dam (73). What started with a wooden cheese vat from Riet Dairy in the Netherlands has grown into a thriving cheese factory with a shop in Germany. Even with the second generation of ten Dams at the helm, Aurora Kaas continues to grow and innovate, thanks in part to Riet Dairy’s reliable dairy equipment. What makes this dairy equipment so valuable? Harry shares his story.

In spite of his age and the transfer of responsibilities to the next generation, Harry and wife Janny ten Dam remain actively involved in the business. “I help out whenever needed, whether that is as a consultant or a truck driver.” Twelve years ago, their daughter Manon took over, while sons Joris, Tim and Daan are responsible for quality, export and production. “It’s wonderful to see our children continuing to build the business, each with their own range of duties, and working in perfect harmony.”

From wooden cheese vat to successful cheese factory

Harry took the first steps in 1980, when he started making cheese with all kinds of second-hand equipment. A few years later, he came into contact with Piet Verburg of Riet Dairy. “Piet then helped us to progress further and even our first wooden cheese vat was from them,” Harry recalls. Aurora has since grown into a thriving cheese factory that processes 13 million litres of milk into organic cheese made from cow, goat and sheep’s milk every year.

High-quality products

Harry attached great value to reliable equipment. “In 2000, we replaced all our machines and opted for Riet Dairy again,” he says. “We already had good experiences with their quality, so it made sense to get our new curd maker, draining table and pasteuriser from there too. You don’t replace something that has proven itself. The equipment is reliable and produces good cheese.”

Personal contact

In 2019, Aurora moved to Germany. “Our biggest customer is there, and the cost of land and construction is lower,” Harry explains. More equipment was also needed, again from Riet Dairy, because Aurora wanted to expand. “The purchasing process went smoothly, thanks in part to the personal contact. Together, we visited cheese factories to make sure all the equipment would fit perfectly in our cheese factory. The contact with Piet and his team always gives us a lot of confidence in them.”

Innovative cheese press

Riet Dairy’s equipment has made Aurora a lot more efficient, thanks in part to its innovative cheese press. “We used to turn the cheeses by hand, now it is done automatically. That saves us two workers,” Harry says with a smile. He also appreciates their two 10,000-litre curd makers, pasteuriser and draining table. “The quality is excellent, and everything works efficiently thanks to automated programmes.”

Reliable partner

Riet Dairy’s reliability is one of the main reasons that Harry continues working with them. “You can always count on swift contact and support, which is crucial in our industry. Harry also appreciates the personal commitment of the family business. “It is nice to talk and negotiate directly with the person in charge. That makes a big difference, especially compared to big companies.”