Eggnog for Easter? Production at Blackwell Dairy delayed until new year

Nov 7, 2018 | 1:16 PM

KAMLOOPS — Locals may be disappointed to hear there won’t be any Blackwell Dairy eggnog on the shelves this holiday season, but once operations are up and running again the winter drink could be making a springtime appearance.

Laura Hunter was formerly the barn manager at the company’s Barnhartvale facility, but ever since a fire destroyed Blackwell Dairy’s processing plant last year, she’s been doing everything she can to help get things on track.

“The rebuild’s been going very successful, the dairy is amazing, the outside is pretty much complete,” Hunter says. “Inside, we’ve got lots of work going on, putting in equipment and getting it up and running, and it looks like we’re targeting for the beginning of February.”

It’s a bit disappointing for some people, as the company originally projected for operations to be up and running before Christmas. But Hunter says the delay isn’t impacting demand for Blackwell’s products.

“Everybody’s still excited for the eggnog. We just put it out there the other day that we’re sorry we’re not going to have eggnog for Christmas, but is anybody interested for Easter, and the response is coming back ‘we’ll take it any time’,” Hunter says.

“We will be putting out eggnog just because people have been waiting for it. The chocolate milk has also been under a huge demand so we’re just looking forward to getting our product back on the shelf.”

Hunter says the company appreciates the Kamloops community for all of the support and patience.