29 September 2009

Artistan cheesemakers, Shepherds Purse of Thirsk, North Yorkshire, has scooped Gold for Mrs Bells Blue at the British Cheese Awards 2009, as well as four bronzes.  The company competed against 884 entries and 189 cheesemakers, representing 70 per cent of the industry.

Mrs Bells Blue, traditionally handmade at the family dairy using 100 per cent ewe’s milk, was awarded Gold in the Speciality Blue category.  Only 66 of the 884 entries were awarded Gold medals, chosen by a prestigious panel of 60 top industry experts, including cheese buyers, journalists, chefs and food critics.

Yorkshire Blue, the company’s best selling cow’s milk cheese and Buffalo Blue, made with 100 per cent water buffalo milk, picked up Bronze in the Speciality Blue class, whilst Fine Fettle Yorkshire Cheese and Olde York, were awarded bronze in the Cheeseboard category.

Commenting on the wins, Judy Bell, chief executive of Shepherds Purse Cheeses said 'Much of the British public and even the media still believe European cheeses are more interesting, more diverse and more likely to be made with raw milk than British cheeses, but this is far from the truth.  We have some amazing British cheeses, indeed Britain now makes around 700 different types, including 61 blues, so I am particularly proud to be a Gold medal winner in this year’s British Cheese Awards, beating very strong competition.  We have won many accolades for our cheeses on the world stage, but it is still a huge thrill to be voted one of the best in Britain.'

The British Cheese Awards were established in 1994 by the doyen of British Cheese, Juliet Harbutt, to raise the profile of British cheeses and create a recognised symbol of excellence for all British cheeses.
The Awards were presented at a Dinner held at the National Museum, Cardiff.


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