Bothwell Cheese is enjoying a significant growth spurt. Mike Raftis is the company's vice-president of Sales, Marketing and Communications. He says they are working hard to grow their sales which has caused them to double their workforce at the plant in New Bothwell and to start planning for further expansion.

"We've seen substantial growth just from increasing our sales across Canada which is driving a lot of expansions or modifications to our existing facility. We've gone from 65 employees a little over a year ago, last February, to around 120 now. Right now we don't have anything official as far as the expansion plans. But, with the added growth, we've had to start planning further out and looking at areas where we may need to look at expanding."

He adds they have plenty of room on their property for expansion but reiterates nothing is imminent.

"Right now we're in a good position. We have no concerns or issues with our capacity. We're able to fill and meet demand. But, as we're growing and we're investing in our sales and marketing and our name is getting out there across the country, the growth is coming and we need to start planning for that."

Raftis says they are also adding a line of non-GMO (genetically modified organism) cheeses which means they have to do things like segregating milk and manufacturing processes within the plant. He adds growth has also resulted in Bothwell Cheese opening a sales and marketing office in Niverville because it outgrew the office space at the plant.

The RM of Hanover has moved expansion of the lagoon in New Bothwell to the top of its priority list for projects funded by the Manitoba Water Services Board to make sure it can accommodate an expansion at Bothwell Cheese.