Milk Link Success At ‘World Cup’ of Cheese Shows
Milk Link, the UK’s leading farmer-owned dairy co-operative and largest cheese manufacturer, is celebrating after an outstanding performance at this year’s Nantwich International Cheese Show – the ‘world cup’ of cheese shows. It collected an impressive six trophies, including Reserve Champion UK, as well as 48 individual awards, including 18 golds.
Competing against a record field of 3,950 cheeses from 28 countries, Tuxford & Tebbutt triumphed, collecting the Reserve Champion UK prize for its Blue Stilton. It also claimed the Cathedral City Crown Stilton Trophy, the Frances Pawlett Trophy for Stilton and the Vegetarian Cheese Dupont Danisco Trophy also for its Stilton. In addition, the creamery took home nine individual awards including four golds, two silvers and three bronze medals.
Milk Link’s other creameries were also recognised for their top cheeses, with Taw Valley taking home the Castle Coombe International Award for best cheese for export and the Cheese Lovers’ Choice Trophy, both for its ‘Tickler’ extra mature Cheddar. The Creamery also collected 18 other awards, including six gold, five silver, and seven bronze medals. Cornish Country Larder scooped five awards, with two golds for organic cheese and vegetarian cheese, one silver and two bronze awards.
Not to be outdone, Reece’s Creamery, in Cheshire, claimed seven awards including two golds for best showdressed traditional cheese and for best whole speciality cheese wheel, as well as four silvers and one bronze.
Claiming a total of four awards, Llandyrnog Creamery collected a gold for its vegetarian Cheddar, while the Milk Link Innovation Centre scooped three awards, including two golds for its flavoured and fortified milks. Meanwhile, Lockerbie Creamery, in Dumfriesshire, Scotland, collected a gold award for its salted butter and a bronze award for its Cheddar cheese.
Commenting on the wins, Neil Kennedy, chief executive of Milk Link, says: “The awards are a true testament to the skill and talent of our dedicated cheese makers. The exceptional taste and quality of our cheeses would not be possible without our cheese makers’ expertise and dedication. I would like to congratulate them for their well-deserved success.”
