We use Google Ads to promote our shop and special events, and it brings us a lot of business.
Wanda Otero
Founder & President
Vaca Negra’s farm-to-table artisanal cheeses and tropical-flavored yogurts are a staple in Puerto Rico, sold in 80 supermarkets and found in hotels, restaurants, farmer’s markets, and their own cheese and coffee shop, La Ubre. Vaca Negra was started by Wanda Otero, a microbiologist who provides milk analysis services to Puerto Rican dairy farmers. When farmers struggled to pay her during the 2008 economic crisis, Wanda came up with a creative solution: accept payment in milk and use it to make cheese that she could sell to cover her fees. She saw it as a way to continue providing a valuable service to local farmers–as well as home-grown nutrition to people across Puerto Rico, where 90 percent of food products are imported. Today, Vaca Negra ships its products to buyers across the island and other parts of the U.S., and offers tours at their Carrizales plant. Visitors can also make their own cheese or schedule private events at La Ubre.
From the start, Wanda has used Google tools to run and grow her business. She learned how to make cheese on YouTube (“It was my first university for making cheese,” she says), and now Vaca Negra’s own YouTube channel shares the glories of Puerto Rican queso and yogur with others. They use Google Workspace for inventory, cross-team communication, and even tour reservations. Their Google Business Profile helps new customers find them via reviews and photos, and provides up-to-date info on hours and directions. And Google Ads helps get the word out. “We use it to promote our shop and special events, and it brings us a lot of business,” Wanda says. Vaca Negra has remained successful even through natural disasters and Covid-19, providing a touchstone for other Puerto Ricans. “We’ve had so many people come to us and say, ‘You inspired us and gave us the strength to turn our business idea into reality,’” says Wanda. “That makes us very happy.”