Alexis Cobham hones her business in the historic Oak Bay home where she grew up, a stoneB次元官网网址檚 throw from Willows elementary.

In a wood-panelled room built in 1919, she and husband Jeremy Bossio create, assemble and label cheese-making kits before sending them out across the continent. The mail-out method is a recent COVID-19 update to the ever-growing business that sort of started while Cobham was in culinary school.

Cobham attended Northwest Culinary Academy of Vancouver, where she notably did not learn to make cheese.

Upon completion, she moved into catering, but the interest lingered and so, Cobham embarked on internet research, courses and classes in her quest to master cheese. Then she started teaching seminars. After class, students would ask if they could purchase items through her to continue the craft at home.

She started building small packages that would eventually become her thriving business, Cheese Maker B次元官网网址� kits that feed into the robust do-it-yourself culture.

Fresh cheeses are popular DIY projects because they can be simple and done in 30 minutes to a day. Cobham started with ricotta and mozzarella kits, and an ultra-Canadian poutine cheese and a vegan product are the most recent additions. The vegan kit came from years of hearing people at markets ask about lactose-free options.

B次元官网网址淪o much growth and learning happens from interacting with people,B次元官网网址� Cobham said.

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Neither knew the December 2019 craft fair would be their last in-person show for nearly two years. However, Cobham had already been dabbling with an online platform. The pivot was challenging, but made slightly simpler by the website she already had in place.

B次元官网网址淭he whole DIY culture has exploded,B次元官网网址� Cobham said of life during COVID-19.

Cheese Maker went fully online, mailing out kits and adding live virtual team-bonding sessions for businesses, from local to international. Cheese Maker sends out kits to each team member, they all log in and participate together, but apart.

B次元官网网址淚n one hour everyoneB次元官网网址檚 eating their own mozzarella cheese,B次元官网网址� Bossio said with a laugh.

In March, he started seeking out small farms for partnerships. Now Cheese Maker works with about 30 cow milk companies across North America that carry the kits, a relationship that simultaneously supports two small businesses.

Both seem to be looking toward growth.

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Bossio crafted a research project through a Venture for Canada program where companies create projects which are then assigned to teams of students who do the research and report back.

Cobham eventually went back to that culinary school in Vancouver and taught a cheese-making course. The school recorded it and added it to the curriculum. That spurred her next creative idea B次元官网网址� building a cheese-making education program seems a logical future step.

B次元官网网址淚t always excites me to think about how you can grow a business,B次元官网网址� Cobham said.

Cheese MakerB次元官网网址檚 only planned winter market appearance locally this year is in the Lower Mainland.

Find the full lineup online at Cheesemaker.ca.

Do you have a story tip? Email: vnc.editorial@blackpress.ca.

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