The Cheese Company, the UK's largest cheese manufacturer and part of Milk Link, has won an outstanding 17 awards at the Royal Highland Show, including 9 wins for Lockerbie Creamery. Around 160,000 people were expected to visit Scotland's national agricultural show over the four days, 21-24 June 2007.
Lockerbie Creamery based in Dumfriesshire, proved a hit with the judges and received gold for its Mild Cheddar, silver for its Mild Cheddar and five bronzes for its Extra Mature Cheddar, Mature Cheddar and Mild Cheddar. The Creamery's butters also received two bronze medals.
Visitors to the show also had the chance to sample the award-winning cheeses at the creamery's stand by the main ring and thousands enjoyed trying Lockerbie Creamery's new range of Mature and Extra Mature Scottish Cheddar, which was one of the winning cheeses.
The Cheese Company's Taw Valley Creamery located in North Tawton, Devon, won 6 medals: three silvers for its Mild Cheddar, Mature Cheddar and Extra Mature Cheddar; and three bronzes for its Extra Mature Cheddar, Red Leicester and Double Gloucester. Tuxford and Tebbutt Creamery in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire also had a successful show, taking home gold and bronze for its Stilton.
Charlie Kennedy, Manager of Lockerbie Creamery commented: "The Royal Highland Show was a success for us not only thanks to the awards but also because it gave the public the opportunity to taste our delicious new range of Scottish Cheddar. Once they had tasted it visitors always asked where they could buy more."
"I would like to thank all of the staff in Lockerbie who worked so hard to produce these award-winning cheeses and to give Scottish shoppers the authentic, high quality local cheese which they deserve."
While the Lockerbie Cheddar range is already available in Tesco stores, it will be available in Sainsbury's stores across Scotland from Monday 25th June. The Cheese Company won over 150 awards in 2006 for its high quality cheeses.
Representatives from Milk Link, the farmer co-operative which owns the creamery, were also on hand and spoke to a number of dairy farmers interested in supplying Lockerbie Creamery on a direct contract. Lockerbie Creamery is currently expanding production to over 30,000 tonnes of cheese per year and so Milk Link is looking to substantially increase its current pool of high-quality Scottish milk.
