Dairy
The Wensleydale Creamery
celebrates 20 years of
success with dedicated
milk producer group
» » THE CREAMERY IS LOOKING FOR MORE Indication (PGI) status in December 2013
farmers to expand its milk producer group for its Yorkshire Wensleydale cheese,
which is creamy, crumbly and full of
The Wensleydale Creamery, the famous
Yorkshire Dales cheese-maker, recently flavour. The PGI status differentiates
celebrated the 20thanniversary of the ‘Yorkshire Wensleydale cheese’ from other
formation of its dedicated Milk Producer Wensleydale cheeses produced in other
Group. The Creamery at Hawes, is now counties around the UK. Cheese-makers
sourcing milk from more than4 0 local outside the designated area can only call
farms, contributing more than £12million their cheese ‘Wensleydale’ not ‘Yorkshire
to the local economy through milk Wensleydale’.
It was thanks to a management buyout
payments, wages and purchases.
in 1992, following the closure of the
A modern success story, The Wensleydale
creamery earlier that year, that cheese-
Creamery had a strong start to 2017,
following a £5million investment in its “It’s a really competitive market out new dairy and cheese-making facilities. there for the dairy industry. We need to by Wensleydale Dairy Products Ltd., the
The business, which is seeing year-on-year continue to work hand in hand to ensure business now employs over 200 people
growth in the UK and internationally, had that we deliver the milk that’s needed to across two manufacturing sites and plays a
its busiest festive period ever in 2016. supply The Creamery, as it aspires to grow vital economic role in the area.
David Hartley, managing director
said: “We’re passionate and proud of our
over the next 20 years.”
In 1996, The Wensleydale Creamery
making in Wensleydale was reborn. Owned
The business supplies major UK retailers,
wholesalers, independent retailers, delis
Yorkshire heritage and provenance and secured contracts with local farms for the and farm shops around the UK, as well as
we are delighted to be celebrating 20 years direct supply of milk to The Creamery. the manufacturing and food service sector.
of working closely with our Milk Producer Today, it continues this relationship with It also exports its portfo lio of products
Group as we head into the 21st year. It’s a the group of farmers who are dedicated to around the world.
significant landmark and achievement that supplying quality milk to make its award- In addition to its range of artisan,
the group continues to come together and winning cheese, and is actively looking for handcrafted cheeses, The Creamery’s
support each other 20 years on! more Yorkshire farmers to join its Milk portfolio also includes Dales Butter,
Producer Group. churned from its whey cream, and the
“We want to say a big thank you to all
recently launched range of Yorkshire
of our supplying farmers for their high
truly special cheese. Our family of farmers THE WENSLEYDALE CHEESE – FROM
THE 12TH TO THE 21ST CENTURY is integral to the production of our award- The Wensleydale Creamery based winning cheeses, yogurts and butter, and at Hawes in Wensleydale, in the heart it’s vital that we support them to ensure a of the Yorkshire Dales National Park of a major investment to build a new
sustainable milk future for the Yorkshire is the home of the famous Yorkshire creamery at its site in Hawes. Cheese-
Dales.” Wensleydale Cheese. It uses traditional making commenced in the new creamery
methods to handcraft cheese to time- in March 2015 and further whey processing
Wensleydale Milk Producer Group, honoured recipes, using milk from local equipment is due to be commissioned in
commented: “It was fantastic for us all farms, as well as being innovative with the the forthcoming months.
to come together to celebrate the 20th development of new cheese recipes.
quality milk, which is at the heart of our
Matthew Bell, chairman of The
anniversary of the formation of the Milk
Wensleydale Cheese has an historic
Yogurt; a premium, naturally thick and
creamy yogurt with a fruit layer, made
using Yorkshire milk.
The Creamery is nearing the completion
It is also home to a new Visitor Centre
experience, which offers a ‘Taste of
Producer Group. I cannot stress enough the pedigree with it first being made in Yorkshire’ to the 250,000 visitors it
importance and value of The Wensleydale Wensleydale in 1150 by Cistercian monks. welcomes per year.
Creamery to our local and deeply rural Dales The Wensleydale Creamery achieved economy. European Protected Geographical
www.wensleydale.co.uk
www.farmers-mart.co.uk Spring 2017 81