From Cheesery to Tourism Experience - FAN Member Meetup at Maleny Cheese

Meet the women behind the growth of Maleny Cheese’s tourism business Join the Food and Agribusiness Network for a special member meetup at Maleny Cheese in the beautiful Sunshine Coast Hinterland. Meet Sara Bucher, co-founder of Maleny Cheese and a founder of the Food and Agribusiness Network, and Tanya Alison, FAN Board Director and the strategist supporting the growth and development of Maleny Cheese’s tourism experiences. Together, Sara and Tanya will share how Maleny Cheese has strengthened its position as both an artisan dairy producer and a regional food tourism destination. Over the past 12 months, enhanced customer service, increased visitation and expanded tourism offerings have contributed to stronger customer feedback and 25% business growth. A key part of this transformation has been the introduction of Maleny Cheese’s guided Tasting Tours, which invite visitors to discover the people, processes and products behind the working show cheesery. Visitor research found that 85.8% of Tasting Tour guests had never previously visited Maleny Cheese, demonstrating the tours’ success in attracting new visitors to the business and the Sunshine Coast Hinterland. What you will discover Sara and Tanya will share practical insights into how Maleny Cheese has: • transformed its working show cheesery and café into a more engaging tourism experience; • developed and launched its Cheese and Yoghurt Tasting Tours; • used customer feedback to improve the visitor experience; • created new reasons for visitors to discover and revisit the business; • connected award-winning products with memorable tourism experiences; • used marketing, storytelling and regional partnerships to increase awareness; • expanded its tourism and hospitality offerings; and • achieved 25% growth over the past 12 months. Guests will also experience a small taste of the Maleny Cheese Tasting Tour and sample a selection of nationally recognised artisan dairy products. Taste award-winning dairy products The tasting experience will include products from Maleny Cheese’s nationally recognised range, including: • the 2025 Australian Grand Dairy Awards Champion Flavoured Yoghurt; • the 2026 DIAA Australian Awards of Excellence Champion Greek Style Yoghurt; and • a selection of artisan cheeses and cultured dairy products made using locally sourced milk. Maleny Cheese’s recent business and tourism achievements include: • 2025 Sunshine Coast Business Awards – Large Food and Agribusiness Winner; • 2025 Queensland Tourism Awards – Silver, Excellence in Food Tourism; • 2025 Australian Grand Dairy Awards – Champion Flavoured Yoghurt; and • 2026 DIAA Australian Awards of Excellence – Champion Greek Style Yoghurt. What to expect • Networking with FAN members, producers and regional business leaders • Insights into tourism development and customer experience • Practical marketing strategies that can be adapted by other businesses • A discussion about Maleny Cheese’s recent growth journey • A behind-the-scenes look at the working show cheesery • A mini Maleny Cheese Tasting Tour experience • Tastings of award-winning yoghurt, cheese and cultured dairy products This meetup is ideal for food and agribusiness owners, tourism operators, producers, hospitality businesses and regional leaders interested in increasing visitation, strengthening customer engagement and transforming a place of production into a compelling tourism experience. Come along to connect with fellow FAN members, gain practical ideas for your own business and experience the flavours, stories and people behind one of the Sunshine Coast Hinterland’s leading food tourism businesses. Event details Date: 20th October 2026 Time: 9am - 12pm Location: Maleny Cheese, 1 Clifford Street, Balmoral Ridge, Queensland Bookings: Essential, as places are limited.