Rural industry: Yorkshire tradition bound for diplomatic taste test

Mr Hague praised the firm for its significant contribution to the rural economy by employing 220 people and supporting local suppliers.

He said: "The Wensleydale Creamery is the home of the best cheese in the world. We are here to celebrate the expansion of the visitor centre as well as a business that is doing so well."

Mr Hague sampled Real Yorkshire Wensleydale cheese with fruit cake – an age-old Yorkshire tradition – and pledged to recommend it to President Obama the next time they meet.

The Creamery is in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales National Park and is one of the largest tourist attractions in the area with more than 200,000 people going through its doors every year.

The firm hopes that the new-look visitor centre will increase this by 50,000.

Managing director David Hartley said: "William Hague has proved to be an ardent supporter of Dales' businesses that are important to the livelihoods of local family-run farms.We regard his visit as a vote of confidence in what we are trying to achieve here at Hawes."

Regional development agency Yorkshire Forward has supported the expansion in the form of a 30 per cent grant from the Rural Development Programme for England.