A new beginning for a local institution

WHEN Chris Bollard took over the Mansfield Dairy and Food Service last month, he became its fourth proprietor in fourteen years. Passed from owner to owner, Mr Bollard said the once proud establishment has struggled to transition into the changing landscape of retail in the 21st century. It looked set to be shuttered once and for all before Mr Bollard stepped in to breathe new life into a local institution at a time when many staples of life in Mansfield are closing their doors to the public. A married father of two, Mr Bollard lives in the Yarra Valley but his family has a long history with Mansfield that dates back to before he was born and it is clear he is very pleased to have become the operator of a business that holds so much goodwill. His grandfather once ran the bike shop in town some fifty years ago. His aunt still lives in Mansfield township. He has fond childhood memories of summers spent visiting family and swimming at Bracks Bridge and in Lake Eildon. “I love it here, I’ve always had a lot of love for the lake,” he said. For the past six years, Mr Bollard has enjoyed a productive working relationship with the Dairy as one of its most reliable suppliers. Indeed, he supplies several businesses in town and if you are a frequent visitor of Mansfield's impressive array of cafes and restaurants, the chances are he has indirectly supplied you, too. Bean Around Town, Mr Bollard’s wholesale coffee bean and cafe supplies business, currently serves 600 cafes spread around metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria. It is perhaps a testament to the deep relationships Mr Bollard forms with his customers, that one of his six hundred customers has pushed him into taking a leap with this new venture. “A business like this needs to hold a couple hundred grand worth of stock to service Mansfield and Mt Buller," he said. “It’s a big investment but we’re going to do it, we’re going to fix it." Mr Bollard has kept the team in place at the Dairy recognising the value of a staff that has spent decades or their life serving the town. Their expertise and the continuity they offer the business has freed him up to spend his time identifying what remedial works the site of the Dairy needs and where he can improve the efficiency of the business. Mr Bollard said the site is in poor condition but will be renovated once safety concerns are addressed. “We’re going to create a showroom Mansfield can be proud of," he said. “Somewhere people can come and buy the best local produce. “I want to talk to local suppliers. “I want to talk to local growers and manufacturers. “I want the Mansfield Dairy and Food Service to be a place that brings the community together." It’s clear the undertaking ahead is great and that it will not be easy but when you look back upon Mr Bollard’s climb to where he now is, it is clear the Dairy has found itself an owner who posses an unrivalled wealth of knowledge of the industry and a level of buying power that can drive efficiencies and pass savings onto the Mansfield community. “I’ve been in hospitality since I was 14," he said. “I have worked through food courts, in hotels and restaurants. “I did four years on night shift in a Wholesale Bakery. “I ended up working for a mobile coffee van and I built it up from nothing so I know the pains that people go through and what they do on a daily basis to keep the lights on. “When I operated Bean Around Town as a coffee van, I switched coffee suppliers three or four times in three or four years because either the service they provided or the product they sold me was horrible. “We started the wholesale version of Bean Around Town in response to that." Mr Bollard began his wholesale business by selling coffee but he soon diversified into chocolate powders, tea, chai, syrups, packaging and cleaning products. “It got off to a very bumpy start but for me, it wasn't about the money it was about servicing and supporting the customer, and building relationships while building the business," he said. “We bought our first factory, a 132 square metre site with pallet racking. “We thought we were amazing and the factory was huge and just two years down the track we had to move into a 390 square metre factory to cope with demand. “And then COVID happened and the state shutdown. “But takeaway went off. “We bought new delivery vehicles and we employed, three new people and we grew as a business. “We had to break the lease on our second factory and we moved into Bayswater, where we took on 1150 square metres there, with 400 plus pallet bays.” “We've grown from one to two to four to seven to we're now at fifteen staff.” While Mr Bollard no doubt has the motivation, the capital and the business chops to make the Dairy successful, he says, it will take co-operation from the Mansfield Shire community to do so. “We are open for business to the public," he said. And the Mansfield Dairy and Food Service’s proposition to the paying customer is incredibly simple. Economies of scale. The tremendous buying power he has amassed over the years allow him to buy products cheaply and he is delighted to be able to offer them to his customers at a cheap price. In a cost of living crisis, the dairy is an option for a real bargain by buying bulk products at wholesale prices. “Please go to the local supermarkets and buy that little bit of salami, go to the deli and buy a little bit of ham," he says. “But if you've got a family of five or six and you need a lot of salami or ham, come to the dairy. “Buy a huge packet and pay wholesale rate for it, don't pay retail for something you can buy wholesale if you're going to use the product in volume. “We sell all your dry goods and frozen foods. “Often at ten times the volume and not even two times the price. “As of Monday the February 24 we are open to the public. “Please come in and buy from us, we know how important the business is to the community and we know the potential it has to service the area but we need your help. “We're open 8 AM to 4 PM, Monday to Friday. “The more people that come in and can support us, the more we can support the community going forwards.” “I'm excited for the ride."

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