Northern Irish Dale Farm success at Cheese Awards

Dale Farm, Northern Ireland's biggest dairy business, gained a string of awards at the annual International Cheese Awards in Nantwich.

The company's products were among almost 4,500 entries from competitors in 26 countries worldwide. Dale Farm, a farmers' cooperative, gained awards for its range of cheddars and also for speciality cheeses gained when it acquired the artisan Fivemiletown Creamery earlier in the year.

Dale Farm, part of United Dairy Farmers, also produces dairy products including butter and yogurt in England and Scotland.

The Northern Irish company produces cheddars at Cookstown in county Tyrone, one of Europe's most modern cheese plants, as well as speciality soft bries and blue cheeses at Fivemiletown, also in Tyrone.

The awards won by Dale Farm were:

Gold and bronze for Mild Cheddar

Gold and silver for Blue Veined Soft Cheese Gold for Sliced Cheese Silver for Vintage Cheddar Bronze and Very Highly Commended for Mature Cheddar Bronze for Naturally Smoked Hard Cheese Very Highly Commended for Grated Cheese Bronze for Cottage Cheese

Dale Farm has experienced record sales of dairy products including cheddar cheese and whey powders to international markets including China. It currently exports to 45 markets.