About us
The Roberts family story
Who knew that from Gareth and Falmai’s first trials of yogurt in their Tal Y Bryn Farmhouse airing cupboard, back in 1985, Llaeth Y Llan would develop into a thriving producer with a modern linear production facility specifically designed to create and package high quality yogurt.
The initial dairy was converted from an old calf shed, where milk was bottled, cream separated and yogurt produced all next door to the milking parlour and cow holding areas, where cows would wait to be milked.
Then in 1995 a more modern dairy was designed and built utilising the old redundant farm granary and other outbuildings, to fulfil increased demand for our yogurt and milk. For the next 20 years this was Llaeth Y Llan’s HQ, bits and bobs were added along the way to increase capacity but Gareth’s initial design allowed Llaeth Y Llan to grow for 20 years.
In 2015 with the brand now stocked throughout Wales in 4 major retailers and independent stores, the old dairy was at maximum capacity!
Planning was granted to build a larger production facility next door to the old dairy, specifically designed from the start to create high quality yogurt and still on the Roberts family farm.
2017 was a big year for the Roberts family and Llaeth Y Llan. early in the year the dairy passed its BRC audit with flying colours and on May 25th the dairy was officially opened by Lesley Griffiths AM, Welsh Government Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs.
Today the team are still busy producing and creating award-winning yogurt.
A little history...
The 1334 Survey of Honour of Denbigh mentions the townships of Llechryd, Berain, Myfoniog and also our home Tal – Y – Bryn. There is evidence of a much older name as well for the farm which is Ael-Y-Bryn which translates to ‘Brow of a Hill’.
Below are some key dates in Tal Y Bryn Farm’s History…
In the 1890’s Gareth Roberts’ Grandfather bought Tal-Y-Bryn farm, unfortunately made bankrupt in the great depression of the 1920’s the farm was sold to the Cefn Estate. Gareth’s father was made a tenant farmer, until his retirement in 1972, when Gareth took it upon himself to succeed tenure of Tal-Y-Bryn and bought the Farmhouse and Farm buildings and a small acreage from the Estate.
At the time of Henry VIII during the disillusionment of the monasteries, large estates of land were created. Tal-Y-Bryn became a farm and has been noted as one of the first Sunday schools situated in North East Wales, started by Gruffydd Jones of Llanddywror in the 18th Century.
Dating to the time of Hywel Dda in the 10th century, these townships stretched from the Elwy Valley where we are today to Pentrefoelas some 15 – 20 miles away. They were the property of the Dioses of St Asaph, and sections were farmed at different times of the year, the ‘Hendre’ section farmed in winter, the ‘Maifod’ in Spring and the ‘Hafod’ in Summer.
Discover more...
Take a trip to our Dairy
Come visit our dairy in the beautiful Welsh countryside where you can see how our yogurt is made!
Alternatively, take a virtual trip below and watch our video below.