Brexit

From its wartime decimation, the unique heritage of UK artisan cheese has slowly clawed its way back to national and international recognition. More than 600 different and culturally diverse types were effectively destroyed to meet the understandable compulsion for national survival post-WWII, indirectly gifting Cheddar a…

In past articles I have noted the demise of some sectors of our regional cheese heritage, most notably Farmhouse Cheshire

It is one thing to make great cheese, another to import great cheese, to handle, store and pack great cheese, but in the end it’s all about who buys it

In the dark months of winter, as the cold chill winds numb the body and brain and simply doing the routine tasks is a chore, it’s hard to engage the spirit in creating and delivering the new, facing the challenges of looking forward and, most importantly,…

Rarely has a year ahead looked so confused as when trying to predict the opportunity and challenges that face the dairy trade in 2017

It’s a historical reality that British artisan cheese was affected more between 1939-45 than any other European country, and hundreds of unique regional types lost out in the drive to uniformity, mass production and Government cheese that created the dominance Cheddar still holds today

It's rare that cheese runs through a period of stability for more than 18-20 months, and we are seeing another of those cyclical surges that are the hallmark of this trade

Since the momentous decision of 23rd June, rarely a day has passed without someone examining the consequences, outcomes and impact of that Brexit vote

When privileged to meet and listen to the cheesemaking fraternity of the UK, I am frequently surprised by the almost consistent desire by so many to make a blue cheese type, whether as a new line or an extension of their brand

Throughout the UK there is a kaleidoscope of tastes, many of these moving inexorably over recent years

A great chasm begins to open in the cheese trade, essentially fuelled by the declining milk price and the divergent demands of suppliers and customers