WYKE FARMS AND WESTLAND CHEESE
AGREE PARTNERSHIP
Wyke Farms, the UK’s largest independent cheese producer
and producers of renewable energy today announce their
working partnership with Westland Cheese (Westland
Kaasspecialiteiten B.V.).
The Westland / Wyke Farms partnership was developed
following a market prioritisation study to identify key areas
with biggest potential. The study covered global macro trends,
key industry, market, trade and societal drivers in the
international cheese market. Through the study, Holland and
Germany were identified as key markets for growth.
Wyke Farms have selected Westland Cheese as their chosen
distributor for several reasons, namely: effective marketing and
selling function; their ability to reach the Dutch and German
markets has been proven over the past 80 years with the worldrenowned
Dutch Gouda ‘Old Amsterdam’ brand. Akin to
Wyke Farms, Westland are a strong family business and place
value on corporate social responsibility with an established
‘Family Trust’ supporting cultural events. And finally, Westland
Cheese also have a sustainability programme that underpins all
of their work.
As part of a strategic approach to selling in the market, in 2019
an independent consumer taste test was commissioned [1] in
three German cities, where Wyke Farms Cheddars were
panelled against the competitive sets. The Wyke Cheddars
were unanimously voted as the ‘best tasting’. Listings have
already been secured by Westland for the brand with many
more in progress.
“Quality produce from Great Britain has being very well
received in European markets” says Rich Clothier, 3rd
generation cheesemaker and Managing Director at Wyke
Farms, he continues: “the time is right for us to increase our
offering into these regions and have chosen the best partner to
help us do this”
“We are delighted to develop a strategic partnership with a
family business that holds strong and similar values to our
own” says Henny Westland, 3rd generation family member and
Managing Director at Westland Cheese, she continues: “at an
unprecedented time of change, these values, quality of products
and way of doing business have a clear competitive advantage
and point of difference to consumers in the market”
Wyke Farms have successfully been exporting cheddar to over
160 countries for the past 20 years. The Wyke Farms’ cheese
and butter is made with the milk from their cows grazing the
lush pastures of the Mendip Hills in the centre of the Cheddar
making region in Somerset.
In the UK Wyke Farms products are available in selected Lidl
stores and in the South West, ASDA, CO-OP and Tesco stores.
All products are available online at: www.wykefarms.com/shop
18 | Rural Life