Six-figure export deal for Wensleydale Creamery

The Wensleydale Creamery, based at Hawes in the Yorkshire Dales, has announced it has secured an export deal worth more than £100,000 to supply cheese to Singapore and Kuwait.

It will see cheese made in North Yorkshire supplied to one of Singapore’s leading retailers, Dairy Farm. The Creamery’s produce will supply three of Dairy Farm’s retail chains - Cold Storage, Market Place and Jason’s - with artisan lines such as Kit Calvert, Wensleydale Blue and Yorkshire Wensleydale, along with blended cheeses including Yorkshire Wensleydale and Cranberries.

First orders from The Wenselydale Creamery have also been despatched to Kuwait City, as the Creamery begins to supply the city’s high end hotels and delis such as internationally-renowned gourmet retailer Dean and DeLuca.

David Hartley, managing director of The Wensleydale Creamery, said: “All of the team are thrilled that our cheese has now been recognised by cheese lovers across Singapore and Kuwait.

“Our heritage and provenance makes Yorkshire Wensleydale cheese taste truly unique and we’re delighted this is now loved worldwide with these new orders, as we continue to drive growth in new international markets and build on our global partnerships.”

Aloysius Voon, fresh foods director of Cold Storage, a supermarket chain that forms part of the Dairy Farm Group in Singapore, said: “With the artisanal cheese market growing worldwide, we search for cheese which ultimately stands out above the rest. We were fascinated by the Wensleydale Creamery’s history, and are excited to bring the unique taste of its handcrafted cheese, famous for being creamy, crumbly and full of flavour, to Singapore.”

The Wensleydale Creamery is supported by UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) Yorkshire and Humber and the British Embassy network, who assisted with opening the international market for the famous cheesemakers.

Stephen Noblett, food and drink sector specialist for UKTI Yorkshire and Humber, said: “This is fantastic news for the Wensleydale Creamery and the Yorkshire region. The Creamery’s close relationship with UKTI and their attendance at our overseas trade missions has enabled us to work together to explore and secure these markets. We will continue to work alongside the Creamery as they continue with their global growth.”

Wensleydale cheese was first crafted in the 12th century by a group of Cistercian monks in Wensleydale and the operation eventually fell into the hands of local farmers’ wives before the first creamery was built in Hawes in 1897.

Made by hand, the creamery’s range of cheese have proved big sellers and its Yorkshire Wensleydale cheese was recently awarded Protected Geographical Indication status which means that no other cheesemaker outside of the designated area can produce and call it Yorkshire Wensleydale.