Great British cheese on the menu this British Food Fortnight

With British Food Fortnight upon us, Milk Link, the UKs leading dairy co-operative and largest cheese manufacturer, has released figures showing that British cheeses such as Cheddar are proving increasingly popular on menus at foodservice outlets across the country.

With around 45 percent of consumer food expenditure taking place out-of-home, foodservice is an increasingly important indicator of consumer tastes and demands. Sales of Tickler, Milk Links fabulous 100% British extra mature Cheddar, show huge growth in the foodservice sector up two and a half fold year-on-year (52 Week MAT Ending 16.09.10; 12.5kg block format), indicating a clear demand both with outlets and consumers for quality British cheese when eating out.

Tickler is now used in dishes and named on the menu in hundreds of pubs across the country   including cheese Ploughmans, cheese platters, and topping classic British pub food such as British beef burgers and filled jacket potatoes. Latest sales [previous 13 weeks] show that Tickler sold through pub chains is up +100% by volume.

Hamish Renton, Milk Links Marketing Director commented, Were proud to be championing British cheeses this British Food Fortnight. Cheddar is always a firm favourite with shoppers and people eating out whats disappointing is that its often imported from abroad.

However our tasty Ticklers bucking that trend with rising popularity on menus across the nation and year-on-year sales growth of +66% in a market which is growing at +2%. Here at  Milk Link were continuing to strive to produce great British products we can be proud of and this fortnight were urging more people to try British cheese , whether at home or dining out.

Tickler is a distinctive extra mature cheddar made in the heart of Devon at the award-winning Taw Valley Creamery, and delivers a unique sweet and tangy flavour which appeals to the British Cheese lover. A new press advertising campaign for the cheese has just launched, with the strapline Cheddar so precious, you wont want to waste a crumb. People can find Tickler on the menu at Wetherspoon and Greene King pubs, and on shelf at Tesco, Waitrose, the Co-operative and Budgens. It is also available on the deli in Morrisons, Sainsburys and Waitrose.

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.