A fresh local approach to selling milk

A farm in Clonbonny is selling milk directly to the public through a self-service vending machine.

Eimear and Francis Nally sell freshly pasteurised whole milk and flavoured milks from their farm using the milk vending machine and under the Bonny Bó label.

Cows on the farm are also milked through a robotic milking system. The cows come in at their own ease and if they are due to be milked they will be milked and let out to new grass and if they are not they will be refused so the cows are in a very stress-free environment.

Eimear and Francis have 150 cows and sell milk to Aurivo Dairy. They decided to diversify the business after they observed a milk vending machine whilst on their honeymoon in New Zealand in 2015. Eimear said: “It took us that long to pluck up the courage to invest in it.”

"It took us years to decide to go for it because it is quite a big undertaking, lot of red tape," added Eimear.

Eimear previously worked on some farms there and was surprised by the small number of cows that farmers had to produce milk. She observed one farmer who had a vending machine in a car park and had a very personal approach to dairy farming by having the names, ages and stories of the various cattle presented too.

They pasteurise their own milk which is not homogenised so as to keep all of the fat and nutrients in the milk for consumption. Bonny Bó has two vending machines, one for glass bottles and another to purchase the milk. The glass bottle is reusable which encourages customers to return for more milk.

Eimear said that their biggest seller is the flavoured milk which includes strawberry, chocolate, crème egg, banana and mint chocolate. “We found a lot of children who don't like milk are drinking our milk."

At the business' base in Clonbonny, customers can purchase a one litre or half litre bottle and can buy plain milk or add in a shot of syrup from the dispenser .

Eimear stressed that the milk vending machine enables them to bring the milk straight from the farm to the public. She said that it's fresh milk with “low milk mileage” and “hasn't been processed. It's opened our eyes as to how you can diversify.”

Eimear and Francis recently went to their son Killian and daughter Mia's school and montessori, Clonbonny NS and Chestnut Hill Montessori in Knockanea, Athlone, to educate children about where milk comes from and gave them some of their milk to try.

Eimear added that the addition of the milk dispensing vending machine “has been a bit of a boost to the community." She said that for the elderly people who don't get out much it gives them the opportunity to drive down to get their milk and have a chat.

Speaking about the future of the local business, Eimear stated: “I would love to see coffee shops using our drink.” She added that chocolate milk can be used for mochas vanilla milk can be used for ice lattes and that she would like to get into schools and supply them with their flavoured milks.

Eimear and Francis recently attended Athlone Agricultural Show with their milk dispensing vending machine which is also a mobile unit. Eimear said it reminded some people of the olden days when milk would be delivered to their door in a glass bottle. MEP for the Midlands–North-West constituency Maria Walsh stopped by the stall and bought a couple of bottles of chocolate milk from Bonny Bó. A lot of younger children tasted the flavoured milk and many locals learned about the business for the first time which Eimear said was a great way for them to get the name out there.

Eimear thanked people for supporting Bonny Bó so far and is asking people to buy local if they can. Bonny Bó opened on Friday, May 5 but Eimear said they will probably hold an official opening later this year.

Francis' parents Fintan and Bridie Nally started dairy farming in the 1970s. They later left the industry but a few years later, Francis started milking. He was able to do so because the old parlour was in place from his parents' time. Francis' son Aaron also works alongside him to help run the farm.

Bonny Bó is governed by the Department of Agriculture and is Bord Bia certified.

The business is located in Clonbonny, N37 V0V2 and is open seven days a week from 9am to 7.30pm from Monday to Friday and from 10am to 7pm on Saturday and Sunday.