Tuxford & Tebbutt, Milk Link's award-winning Stilton Creamery in Melton Mowbray, has completed the development of a new cheese maturation store, to allow it to expand production. The investment in the new maturation store follows recent significant new business wins for Tuxford & Tebbutt to supply additional volumes of Blue Stilton to both Sainsbury's and Marks & Spencer.
Established in 1782, and currently employing over 90 staff, Tuxford & Tebbutt still uses traditional cheese making skills and is one of only seven creameries in the world able to produce Blue Stilton Cheese - often referred to as the 'King of English Cheeses'.
The award winning Stiltons are hand made by experienced cheese makers using traditional methods and milk sourced only from the counties of Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire. The cheeses are matured individually and are turned and graded by hand as has been the case for many generations. In addition to the traditional methods, continuous monitoring and measuring is carried out to ensure that the Blue Stilton produced at Tuxford & Tebbutt meets the highest quality and rich taste standards.
Richard Newell, Tuxford & Tebbutt's General Manager, commented: "The site expansion and new business wins are fantastic news for Tuxford & Tebbutt and the local area. It demonstrates the confidence our customers have in our ability to supply finest quality Blue Stilton all year round. Opportunities now exist for recruitment as the business expands and this can only be good for the local community.
"The site has produced consistent top quality Blue Stilton for some years and I am delighted that the hard work and commitment shown by the staff along with the support from Milk Link has paid off."
Stilton Facts
Stilton was first made in the 1700s at Quenby Hall, near Hungarton.
Sales of Stilton rise 700% at Christmas.
True Stilton can only be made by authorised creameries operating in the counties of Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire.
Stilton is named after the village of Stilton even though the cheese has never been made there. Stilton, which is located 80 miles north of London on the Great North Road, was a popular stopping point for coaches travelling from London to Scotland and other northern cities. The village became the centre market place for the cheese with thousands of pieces being sold every week. Hence the blue cheese one would buy in Stilton became known as Stilton cheese.
The Cheese Company's Tuxford & Tebbutt creamery at Melton Mowbray produces around 2,300 tonnes of Stilton every year.
Stilton takes about 12 weeks to produce.
The quality of Tuxford & Tebbutt's Stilton has been recognized by the winning of 'gold' awards at many of the UK's leading cheese shows. Most recently our Stilton was named best blue cheese at the prestigious Great Yorkshire Show (8 July 2008).
