Awards success for Milklink at the Mid-Somerset Show

Taw Valley Creamery scoops 27 awards

Milk Link, the UKs leading farmer-owned dairy co-operative and largest cheese manufacturer, exceed at todays Mid-Somerset Show in Shepton Mallet, Somerset with its Creameries collecting 33 awards for its cheeses. Taw Valley Creamery, in North Tawton, Devon scooped a staggering 27 awards at the Show.

Taw Valley Creamerys awards haul included five trophies and 11 gold prizes. Trophies awarded to the Creamery included the Stratton Sales Seven Counties Cup; the Matthews & Skailes Perpetual Challenge Cup for the Champion Cheese; the Stan Ash Memorial Cup for the Overall Winner of Cheddar Cheesemakers; the Sturminster Creamery Cup for the Overall Winner of Open Classes; and fourth place in the Danisco Grand Prix for Finest Mature Cheddar Cheese. Whilst gold prizes were awarded for excellence in the following categories:

• Mild Cheddar Cheese
• Mature Cheddar Cheese
• Extra Mature Cheddar Cheese
• Vintage Cheddar Cheese
• Mild Cheddar Cheese
• Mature Cheddar Cheese
• Extra Mature Cheddar Cheese
• Vintage Cheddar Cheese
• Double Gloucester
• Organic Cheddar
• Speciality Cheese

Milk Links Tuxford and Tebbutt Creamery, in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire won two gold awards for the quality of its Stilton, including silver and bronze awards in the same category.

Taw Valley Creamery also won six silver prizes in the Mild Cheddar Cheese; Mature Cheddar Cheese; Mild Cheddar Cheese; Mature Cheddar Cheese; Organic Cheddar and Reduced Fat Cheese categories, whilst Llandyrnog Creamery was awarded one in the Single Extra Mature Cheddar Cheese category.

The results delighted the Chief Executive of Milk Link Neil Kennedy who said: Our expert cheese makers deserve this recognition for their flair, dedication and skills which deliver the really exceptional taste and quality of our products.

The acknowledgement here at the Mid-Somerset Show for the excellence of our Taw Valley, Tuxford & Tebbutt and Llandyrnog creameries makes me and everyone involved with Milk Link very proud. It also makes us determined to build on this success at future shows which are so important to the British dairy industry and in particular our farmers.

Milk Link produces a range of branded cheeses and butters, including Tickler, a fabulous extra-mature Cheddar produced in the heart of Devon; Lockerbie Cheddar and Butter, unique products with a special kick and a wee bit of bite; and the Cadog range of Welsh cheeses. The company also manufactures over 20 varieties of Cheddars, blue Stiltons and British regional cheeses for the retail, food service and ingredients sectors.

Additional information on the awards

• Taw Valley Creamery also received five bronze places in the Single Extra Mature Cheddar Cheese; Single Vintage Cheddar Cheese; Single Red Leicester; and Single Double Gloucester categories.
• Tuxford & Tebbutt received a third place in the Whole Blue Stilton category.

Milk Link

• Milk Link is one of the UKs leading integrated dairy businesses, owned 100% by British dairy farmers. It manufactures a complete portfolio of dairy products including cheese, long life milk, creams, flavoured milks, and milk powders supplying most major multiples and the food service sector.
• Milk Link exists to provide long-term security for its dairy farmer Members.
• Milk Link is the largest cheese producer in the UK supplying Cheddar, Stilton and British regional cheeses to the retail, food service and ingredients sectors.  It employs over 1,000 people at six cheese and dairy processing facilities at its Taw Valley Creamery, Devon; Tuxford & Tebbutt Creamery, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire; Reeces Creamery, Malpas, Cheshire; Llandyrnog Creamery, North Wales; and Lockerbie Creamery, South West Scotland, plus a large, modern consumer packing facility in Oswestry, Shropshire.
• Milk Link has a number of leading dairy brands including Tickler Extra Mature Cheddar, Moo Organic, Lockerbie and Cadog and other brands under licence: Flora Pro Activ milk and Mars flavoured milk drinks.