Sernica Dolnośląska is a small family factory operating in the village of Bielawa in the Długołęka commune near Wrocław. The inconspicuous cheese factory is only 20 km from the center of Wrocław, but it is difficult to get there without a car. After reaching the place, the smell of cheese coming from the low, white buildings can be felt from afar.
The founder of the company is almost 30-year-old Kamil Holajda. Apart from him, only three people work at Sernica Dolnośląska, including his parents. In 2024, they sent their 12-month-ripened Meadow Sheep cheese to the World Cheese Awards competition. Almost 5,000 people take part in the competition every year. cheeses from 40 countries. — Bronze, silver, gold and super gold medals are awarded. We won the gold medal. Our meadow cheese was 8%. the best in the world – says Holajda proudly.
Kamil Holajda from Sernica Dolnośląska
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Natalia Dobryszycka / Onet
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The increase in orders was only brought about by a post on Facebook
Although the cheeses from Bielawa were appreciated by the jury, the success was not followed by an increase in orders. — Last year, after the competition, we had a few questions about cheese. But overall, the response was small, says Holajda. The breakthrough came when I turned to the author of the popular Facebook blog “Pomysłowcy”. “We managed to talk a little and he decided to help us,” says the cheesemaker.
The entry about Lower Silesian products was published on the profile of “Ideamakers” followed by over 1.2 million people on November 11. “I have never eaten such brilliant sheep products in my life. Seriously,” wrote Kamil, a blogger specializing in describing local products.
And just like that, the avalanche started.
— Our phone went crazy, our instant messengers started going crazy. The site went down for about three days. And now we are gradually fulfilling these orders – laughs the owner of the factory.
The company accepts next orders only in January. It is impossible to increase production. “We won't create two-year-old cheese in a month,” he explains.
From spring to autumn, i.e. during the grazing period, the company is able to produce 100-120 kg of cheese per week. In winter, production decreases. – Now we are simply selling out of the stocks that were created during the season – says Holajda
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Cheese was first made in a pot, for the family. Then came the successes
Holajda started his adventure with cheese-making when he was still in junior high school.
— I found a book about cheese by accident. I decided I would try to make some use of it, he says.
At first it was just a passion. He made his first cheese while still living in Wrocław. They were made in an ordinary pot and tested by the young cheesemaker's family. The company developed when his parents bought a farm in Bielawa near Wrocław.
— The oldest part of the company was the renovated garage. Then it developed so much that another part and a second ripening room were built.
The room was designed by the cheesemaker's father. “It's perfect for caring for cheese,” explains Holajda.
The first success came quickly. In 2018, during the “Europa na Widelcu” festival in Wrocław, two products created in Sernica Dolnośląska won the jury's recognition. They won awards for sheep's cheese with blue mold and for cheddar-type cheese made from goat's milk. Since then, his products have regularly won cheese competitions.
Cheese production in Sernica Dolnośląska
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Natalia Dobryszycka / Onet
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Sernica Dolnośląska also makes ice cream from sheep's milk
“This is not a coincidence, it is the result of great knowledge, precision and love for the craft, because Kamil and his team do everything themselves! They have their own milk from goats and sheep that are raised by friendly farmers. There is no mass production or chemical shortcuts here! There is patience, nature and honest work,” commented Kamil from “Idea originators” in the above-mentioned entry.
– Everything is handmade and cared for by us – confirms Holajda.
The factory specializes in sheep and goat cheeses that mature from several months to two years. The offer includes, among others: goat gouda, sheep cheese with truffle or smoked sheep cheeses.
— We have also been making sheep's milk ice cream for about two years. This is actually a bit unique, because there are probably only three companies in the country that still make them. This ice cream feels so “full” when you eat it. We feel this feeling of 'creamy' – he adds.
Products of Sernica Dolnośląska can be purchased in the shop adjacent to the factory in Bielawa. There is also possibility of placing orders by phone. Cheese prices range from PLN 90 for cottage cheese to PLN 300 for 1 kg of meadow cheese. Such as the one awarded in the competition.
Kamil Holajda in the cheese maturing room of Sernica Dolnośląska
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Natalia Dobryszycka / Onet
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Not only Sernica Dolnośląska. Polish cheeses are valued
Kamil Holajda also appreciates cheese made by others, because in his opinion we have a lot of good quality products in Poland. Last year, a total of 10 cheeses from our country won awards in the World Cheese Awards competition. In 2025, there were nine. Medals are awarded every year to, among others: into the hands of the owners of the Wańczykka Farm located in the Sudetes (Lower Silesia Voivodeship). Our interlocutor also mentions others: Harmonia Farm from the province. West Pomeranian Voivodeship, Groser from Łódź specializing in goat cheese, and Wojciech Komperda's Bacówka producing oscypek cheese.
Cheese ripening in Sernica Dolnośląska
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Natalia Dobryszycka / Onet
— In general, we have about 150-200 cheese makers in each voivodeship. The problem is that producers are small and have no budget for advertising. They are unable to reach consumers who would be interested, explains Holajda.
