Cheese Awards Excite Industry

The prestigious ‘Supreme Champion’ award went to Carmarthenshire cheese maker Caws Cenarth for its Golden Cenarth, a semi-soft washed rind cheese. The product also scooped the ‘Best Welsh’ and ‘Best Semi-Soft Cheese’ titles.

Established in 1994 by Juliet Harbutt to raise the profile of British cheese, the awards celebrate retailers and producers alike across a number of categories.

Nottinghamshire retailer The Old Theatre Deli fought off stiff competition from some of the country’s finest cheesemongers, farm shops and food halls to win the Best New Cheese Retailer award. “The store has been born out of an absolute love and passion for really good food and a desire to educate and enthuse our customers about the brilliance of local, seasonal, ‘real’ food,” said Caroline Evans, owner.

“Our cheese philosophy is to offer our customers a selection of the best cheeses this country has to offer. We provide them with all the information about each cheese – not just tasting notes but also about the people who make it. We believe food tastes a whole lot better when you know where it comes from,” she added.

Aside from gaining publicity and national acclaim, The Old Theatre Deli also won a free masterclass with Juliet Harbutt, an all-expenses-paid trip to this year’s awards dinner and a chance to judge at the 2011 Awards.

“Of the 906 cheeses entered by 179 cheesemakers in this year’s awards, only 35% were awarded medals, making this the toughest result ever. This is why they are recognised as a symbol of excellence by cheesemakers, the trade and consumers,” said Juliet Harbutt. “Congratulations to those who won a medal, or have won in the past – be very proud
and tell the world of your successes,” she added.

Source: The British Cheese Awards