FDBusiness.com

Wyke Farms, one of the UK’s largest independent cheese producers, is working in partnership with Westland Cheese to increase distribution to include Holland and Germany. Wyke Farms has successfully been exporting cheddar cheese to over 160 countries for the past 20 years.

The Westland/Wyke Farms partnership was developed following a market prioritisation study to identify key areas with biggest potential. The study covered global macro trends, key industry, market, trade and societal drivers in the international cheese market. Through the study, Holland and Germany were identified as key markets for growth.

Wyke Farms has selected Westland Cheese as its chosen distributor for several reasons, namely: effective marketing and selling function – the ability to reach the Dutch and German markets has been proven over the past 80 years with the world-renowned Dutch Gouda ‘Old Amsterdam’ brand. Like Wyke Farms, Westland is a strong family business and places value on corporate social responsibility with an established ‘Family Trust’ supporting cultural events. Westland Cheese also has a sustainability programme that underpins all of its work.

“Quality produce from Great Britain has being very well received in European markets,” says Rich Clothier, third generation cheesemaker and Managing Director at Wyke Farms. “The time is right for us to increase our offering into these regions and have chosen the best partner to help us do this.”

“We are delighted to develop a strategic partnership with a family business that holds strong and similar values to our own,” says Henny Westland, third generation family member and Managing Director at Westland Cheese. She adds: “At an unprecedented time of change, these values, quality of products and way of doing business have a clear competitive advantage and point of difference to consumers in the market.”