Long Clawson’s Stilton wins Supreme Champion at ICDA 2024

British Stilton is making its comeback on the cheese scene as Long Clawson’s Blue Stilton took the crown at this year’s International Cheese & Dairy Awards (ICDAs), one of the world’s biggest platform for world-class cheese.

Long Clawson Dairy’s Blue Stilton stole the show at the event, held at Bingley Hall in Staffordshire County Showground on 27-28 June. It marks the cheesemaker’s second win in just three years, after its Shropshire Blue won the title in 2022.

“We are absolutely ecstatic to win Supreme Champion for our delicious Blue Stilton,” said Bill Mathieson, managing director for Long Clawson Dairy. “This victory is like winning an Oscar in the cheese industry.

“Stilton is a national treasure, and we really hope this win will help people reacquaint their love with it because it’s such a fantastic cheese,” he continued. 

The ICDA, which has its roots in Nantwich from 1897, has grown to be the leading cheese and dairy event bringing together buyers and sellers from the dairy industry worldwide, and its stamp of approval for Blue Stilton will be a boon for the territorial cheese, Bill said. “Stilton generally has had quite a tough time in the last few years with lots of imported cheese coming in and it only really being considered as a part of the Christmas cheeseboard, but this win really is support of our campaign to ‘Save our Stilton’.”

Long Clawson’s team of master cheesemakers have more than 200 years of collective experience, and Bill hailed the moment as a proud one for the whole team. “It’s such a feat for a farming cooperative like ours to be recognised for the fantastic skill that goes into our artisanal cheesemaking process,” he said.

Each year, more than 5,500 entries are made for cheese and dairy products in the ICDAs, and this year the team behind the event built on the success of last year’s show with even more entries across the categories.

While Long Clawson won the Supreme Champion Cheese category, Dewlay was named as the reserve for its Tasty Lancashire cheese, which is made to the traditional Lancashire two-day curd recipe.

The ICDA 2024 winners

Supreme Champion Cheese
Long Clawson – Blue Stilton (winner)
Dewlay – Tasty Lancashire (reserve)

Supreme Champion Dairy Product
Manor Farm Dairy – Orange & Passion Fruit Yogurt

The Champion UK
Morrisons – Mature Double Gloucester

The Reserve Champion UK
Cropwell Bishop – Stilton

The Champion Overseas
Bradburys – Marcel Petit Morbier

The Reserve Champion Overseas
Lustenburger & Durst SA – 1862 Creamy & Extra Tangy

Supreme Specialist/Artisan Cheesemaker
Lustenburger & Durst SA – 1862 Creamy & Extra Tangy

Cheese Board Awards
Olive Architects – Black Garlic & Ginger