St. Tola Irish Goat Cheese

What St. Tola Irish Goat Cheese does

St. Tola Irish Goat Cheese (legally Inagh Farmhouse Cheese Ltd.) is an artisan goat cheese producer founded in 1978 and based at Gortbofearna, Ennistymon, County Clare, Ireland. The company operates a 65-acre farm with a herd of approximately 300 Saanen, Toggenburg, and British Alpine goats (200 milkers), producing raw and pasteurised goat cheeses using traditional farmhouse methods including natural geotritum mould rind development. The core product portfolio spans nine cheeses — Log, Ash Log, Greek Style, Crottin, Karst, Divine, Original, Cranberry, and a Hard variant — alongside value-added rapeseed oil products (St Tola Gold with Chilli & Garlic, Summer Gold with Garden Herbs) and a Dunnes Stores private-label SKU.

The business distributes across multiple channels: direct online sales through its Shopify storefront and farm shop, listings in Irish retail multiples (Supervalu, Tesco, Dunnes Stores), specialist cheese retailers (Neal's Yard Dairy London, Sheridans Cheesemongers), restaurant and hospitality accounts, farmers markets, and Irish/UK/continental wholesalers. A second revenue stream comes from public and private farm tours priced at €15/head and a €240 minimum for private bookings. The business is family-owned and operated by Siobhán Ní Gháirbhith, who acquired it in 1999 from founders Meg and Derrick Gordon, and co-owner John Harrington, with 6-8 employees and no external investment.

The company is embedded in multiple artisan food and sustainability networks — Origin Green (since 2016), the Irish Raw Milk Cheese Presidia under Slow Food, the Burren and Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark, the Burren Ecotourism Network, and GEOfood (since 2021) — and has accumulated more than two decades of international award recognition, including Best Irish Cheese at the World Cheese Awards in 2012, 2018, and 2025, and 3 Stars at the 2021 Great Taste Awards (achieved by fewer than 2% of 14,000 entries).

Name

St. Tola Irish Goat Cheese

Legal name

Inagh Farmhouse Cheese Ltd.

Website

https://st-tola.ie

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

St. Tola Irish Goat Cheese is a County Clare-based artisan producer of raw and pasteurised goat cheeses from its own 300-goat herd, selling through Irish multiples, UK specialist retailers, restaurants, and direct online channels, with supplementary farm-tour revenue.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Artisan Goat Cheese

NAICS

Cheese Manufacturing (311513), Goat Farming (112420)

SIC

Dairy Products (2020)

akta.pro primary industry

Cheese Manufacturing (AFAKAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Dairy Goat Farming (Milk Production) (AFAEAFAC)

Keywords

• Artisan goat cheese
• Farmhouse cheese production
• Raw milk cheese
• Goat dairy products
• Specialty cheese manufacturing

Headquarters

HQ city

Ennistymon

HQ country

Ireland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Cheese Product Sales: Direct and wholesale sales of artisanal goat cheese products including Log, Ash Log, Divine, Original, Greek Style, Crottin, Karst, Cranberry, and flavoured oil products. Sold through own online shop, retail multiples, specialist cheese shops, and wholesalers.
2. Farm Tours and Experiences: Public and private farm tours offering goat farm visits, cheese-making demonstrations, cheese tastings, and educational experiences about sustainable farming. Premium and standard tour options available.
3. Value-Added Cheese Products: Specialty products including St Tola Gold with Chilli & Garlic Rapeseed Oil and St Tola Summer Gold with Garden Herbs - chunks of Greek Style cheese in flavoured oils.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

St. Tola Irish Goat Cheese produces and sells a portfolio of handmade artisan goat cheeses (including Log, Ash Log, Greek Style, Crottin, Karst, Divine, Original, Cranberry, and Hard variants in both raw and pasteurised milk versions) along with value-added cheese-in-oil products (St Tola Gold with Chilli & Garlic Rapeseed Oil and Summer Gold with Garden Herbs). The company also operates direct-to-consumer channels including a Shopify online store, an on-site farm shop, and public/private farm tours and cheesemaking experiences. Products are sold through Irish retail multiples, UK specialist retailers (Neal's Yard Dairy), restaurants, and wholesale distributors.

Product overview

St. Tola Irish Goat Cheese (Inagh Farmhouse Cheese Ltd.) is an artisan goat cheese producer based in County Clare, Ireland, offering a diverse portfolio of goat cheese products. The core product line includes fresh and mature St Tola Log, Ash Log, Crottin, Karst (ashed cheese named after Burren landscape), Divine, Original, Cranberry, Greek Style, and Hard cheese variants. Some cheeses are available in both raw milk and pasteurised versions. The company also produces value-added products including St Tola Gold with Chilli & Garlic Rapeseed Oil and St Tola Summer Gold with Garden Herbs, featuring Greek Style cheese chunks in flavoured rapeseed oils. A private label product, Dunnes Store Divine, is sold exclusively through Dunnes Stores. All products are handmade in small batches, with the company operating a 65-acre farm with approximately 300 goats and employing 6-8 staff.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• St Tola Log Soft white goat cheese in mature or fresh variants; can be raw or pasteurised milk; develops a natural golden rind with ageing. Sold to retail consumers, restaurants, and wholesalers in Ireland and the UK.
• St Tola Ash Log Raw milk goat cheese log rolled in traditional food-grade ash that slows maturation; emerges as a smooth textured, full flavoured cheese after weeks of careful handling. Available in 1kg or 600g sizes; targeted at premium retail, restaurants, and cheesemongers.
• St Tola Greek Style Firm Greek-style goat cheese made from 100% Irish goat milk, pure white with no moulds or skin, matured in brine for a creamy, mildly goaty and salty taste. Suitable for salads, sandwiches, and cooking; for retail and foodservice customers.
• St Tola Crottin 120g round of soft goat cheese made from very fresh curd and coated with light sea salt; smooth and light with clean lemony flavours and hints of flowers and sweetness that develop with ageing. Available plain, with ash, or with cranberry.
• St Tola Karst Soft ashed cheese named after the Burren limestone karst landscape. Made only from St. Tola's own raw milk using a special recipe to order, featuring grey wrinkles and a moussey texture with rich flavour. Won Best Irish Cheese and Super Gold at the World Cheese Awards 2025.
• St Tola Divine Fresh smooth goat cheese with a smooth white colour and light whipped texture; cool and fresh flavour with lemony and light floral undertones; pasteurised milk with vegetarian rennet. Ideal for cooking and recipes both savoury and sweet. Sold to retail consumers and food service.
• St Tola Original 120g slice of the classic St Tola Log. Firm white cheese with golden rind, ideal for cooking or cheeseboard; pasteurised milk with vegetarian rennet. Sold through Irish multiples and online.
• St Tola Cranberry Soft goat cheese with sour/sweet cranberry flavour and a pretty rose colour, balancing the creaminess and honey notes of traditional logs. Traditionally popular at Christmas; produced year-round to order.
• St Tola Gold with Chilli & Garlic Rapeseed Oil Chunks of St. Tola Greek Style in Newgrange Gold Chilli and Garlic Rapeseed Oil with Rainbow Peppercorns and Thyme. Sold in 185g jars with 3-month shelf life; pasteurised milk. Value-added gift and deli product for retail and wholesale.
• St Tola Summer Gold with Garden Herbs Chunks of St. Tola Greek Style in Newgrange Rapeseed Oil with Garden Herbs, Lemon Oil, bay leaves, mustard seeds and coriander seeds. Sold in 185g jars with 3-month shelf life. Versatile for pizza topping, salads, or eating straight from the jar.
• Dunnes Store Divine Private-label variant of St. Tola Divine produced exclusively for Dunnes Stores in distinctive green packaging. 120g of fresh creamy goat curd sold in the specialty cheese section; pasteurised milk, vegetarian rennet, 5-week shelf life.
• Farm Tours and Cheese Experiences Public and private farm tours offering goat farm visits, cheesemaking demonstrations, cheese tastings, and educational experiences about sustainable farming. Premium and standard tour options available; agritourism experience for visitors to the Burren region.

Quantifiable outcome

• 3 Stars at Great Taste Awards 2021 (less than 2% achieve this)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• GEOfoodcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Global brand promoting food sourced and produced in UNESCO Global Geoparks. Burren and Cliffs of Moher became member in 2021. Emphasizes connection between local food and geological heritage.
• Bord Bia Origin GreencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Member since inception of Origin Green programme in 2016. Focuses on greener farming, waste and water treatment, alternative power, packaging, and carbon footprint reduction. Subject to independent audits every 18 months.
• Neal's Yard Dairy LondoncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOver 20-year partnership with UK's leading specialist cheese retailer. St Tola featured in Neal's Yard St Patricks Day selection and exclusive cheese boards. Partnership focuses on developing beautiful artisan cheeses for the UK market.
• Burren Ecotourism Network (B.E.N.)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProud member of network embedded in sustainable tourism ethos. Must complete Geopark Sustainable Code of Practice training. Network provides marketing, business development, and partnership opportunities.
• Burren and Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global GeoparkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember since gaining Geopark status in 2011. Completed Geopark Sustainable Code of Practice. Part of GEOfood brand promoting local food within UNESCO Global Geoparks.
• Burren Food TrailminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of trail highlighting artisan food producers, farmers markets, bars, restaurants, and brewers throughout the Burren region. Supports local food culture and tourism.
• Irish Raw Milk Cheese Presidia (Slow Food)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of Slow Food Presidia protecting traditional products and methods at risk of extinction. One of 11 artisan dairies committed to safe, high-quality raw milk cheese production.
• ÉCONOMUSÉEminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench-Canadian scheme helping small craft and artisan producers create visitor centres. St Tola has working museum showing farm, animals, and art of cheesemaking.
• Oldways Cheese CoalitionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational membership organization promoting raw milk and traditional cheeses. St Tola supports annual raw milk cheese appreciation day.
• Sheridans CheesemongersminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGalway-based specialist cheese retailer with 20+ year history. Passionate advocates of local farming championing high quality food production.
• La Rousse FoodsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIrish premium food distributor. St Tola partnered with La Rousse for Michelin Guide Awards Ireland UK 2026 showcase of Irish products.
• Hazel Mountain ChocolateminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBurren-area artisan chocolate maker. Collaboration creating Irish/Polish fusion dumplings featuring St Tola cheese in promotional video.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Appleby's Cheesemakers: UK farmhouse cheese maker producing raw milk territorial and goat cheeses in Shropshire. Comparable on small-batch artisan production, raw milk process, and UK distribution through specialty retailers.
• Killeen Farmhouse Cheese: Irish goat and sheep cheese maker from Co. Galway producing award-winning raw milk cheeses. Direct competitor in Irish specialty cheese retail and shared customer base of artisan food enthusiasts.
• Coolea Farmhouse Cheese: Irish farmhouse cheese producer from Co. Cork known for natural rind and raw milk cheeses with strong international award record. Comparable via artisanal method, Irish origin, and export-focused distribution.
• The Little Milk Company: Irish farmhouse cheese brand using cow's and goat's milk from multiple small farm partners. Comparable as a premium Irish artisan dairy brand with established retail distribution and award pedigree.
• Milleens Cheese: Iconic Irish farmhouse cheese maker from the Beara Peninsula producing raw milk cheese on a single small farm. Comparable on artisan scale, terroir-led branding, and Irish specialty retail distribution.
• Cashel Blue / J&L Grubb: Irish farmhouse cheese producer famous for Cashel Blue and Crozier Blue. Comparable on Irish farmhouse heritage, multi-SKU portfolio, and export through Neal's Yard Dairy and Irish wholesalers.
• Vermont Creamery: US specialty goat and cow cheese maker with strong farm-to-table brand and broad national distribution. Comparable on premium goat cheese focus, artisanal production, and farm-brand storytelling.
• Quicke's Cheddar: Devon-based farmhouse cheddar maker with traditional methods, farm tours, and strong UK retail/wholesale presence. Comparable as a heritage farmhouse cheese brand leveraging farm experience and award-led marketing.
• Sharpham Cheese / Sharpham Trust: Devon-based farm and cheese producer making raw cow and goat milk cheeses with on-site farm tours and shop. Comparable on combined cheese production plus agritourism revenue model.
• Ardsallagh Goat Cheese: Irish artisan goat cheese producer from Co. Cork offering a similar portfolio of fresh and ash-log goat cheeses through Irish retail and specialty channels. Directly comparable on product category, scale, and go-to-market across Ireland.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/sttolacheese
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@st-tola
• Facebookfacebook.com/sainttola
• Instagraminstagram.com/st.tolaqueen
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/st-tola-organic-goats-cheese

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about St. Tola Irish Goat Cheese