Awards success for Milk link at show

Milk Link, the UK’s leading farmer-owned dairy co-operative and largest cheese manufacturer, excelled at the Frome Agricultural & Cheese Show, with its Taw Valley Creamery being awarded the Sturminster Newton Perpetual Cup for gaining more points than any other competitor in the show. Overall, Milk Link’s Creameries continued their recent winning streak, collecting an outstanding 28 individual awards, including 12 gold prizes.

Milk Link’s Taw Valley Creamery scooped an amazing haul of 20 awards, including eight gold prizes. Gold prizes were awarded for excellence in the following categories: Medium Cheddar (UK); Mild Cheddar; Medium Cheddar; Best English Cheddar; Organic Cheddar; Sliced Cheese; David Brewer Salver for the Best Presented Cheese and Best Children’s Cheese Judged by Children. The Taw Valley Creamery also won a further four silver awards in the Mild Cheddar (UK); Finest Mature Cheddar; Best West Country Cheese and Organic Cheddar classes.

Milk Link’s other Creameries also excelled, with Llandyrnog Creamery getting the top prizes in the Extra Mature Cheddar and Vintage Cheddar (UK) categories and a silver prize for Medium Cheddar. The Tuxford & Tebbutt Creamery in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire won three awards for the quality of its Stilton, winning the gold prize for two Stilton Halves and the gold and silver awards in the Whole Blue Stilton category. Lockerbie Creamery also won a bronze award for its Salted Butter.

Commenting on the results, the Chief Executive of Milk Link Neil Kennedy said: "Once again this year our expert cheese makers have been recognised for their commitment to going the extra mile to deliver products of exceptional taste and quality.

"The acknowledgement here at Frome Agricultural & Cheese Show for the excellence of our Taw Valley Creamery, as well as Tuxford & Tebbutt, Llandyrnog, and Lockerbie Creameries makes me and everyone involved with Milk Link very proud."

Milk Link produces a range of branded cheeses and butters, including Tickler, a fabulous extra-mature Cheddar produced in the heart of Devon; Lockerbie Cheddar and butter, and the Cadog range of Welsh cheeses. The company also manufactures over 20 varieties of Cheddars, blue Stiltons and British regional cheeses for the retail, food service and ingredients sectors.