Dale Farm reaps success at International Cheese Awards

Dale Farm, Northern Ireland's biggest cheese producer, gained a string of gold, silver and bronze awards at the world's biggest cheese event at Nantwich in Cheshire.

The company, now among the leading dairy processing businesses in the United Kingdom and Ireland, won recognition for its portfolio of cheddar cheese products at the industry's international showcase.

Dale Farm gained one of the major trophies - the Bradburys Award for sliced cheese, UK exhibitor.

The other awards for Dale Farm, part of United Dairy Farmers, Northern Ireland's biggest and most successful farmers' co-operative, gained awards such as:

Gold and silver for sliced cheddar;

Silver and bronze for mature cheddar;

Silver for mature cheddar from a UK supplier;

Silver for mild cheddar - white or coloured;

Silver for extra mature cheddar coloured block

Silver for grated cheese; and

Bronze for mild cheddar - coloured block open to UK creameries only.

Dale Farm cheese was among over 4,250 entries from cheese producers in almost 30 countries worldwide. The event is held as part of the annual Nantwich Agricultural Show, among the biggest in Britain.

The global cheese event is now in its 116thyear. Cheese processors entered products in 283 categories to be assessed by a panel of 190 judges.

Dale Farm is a co-operative owned by 1,900 dairy farmers across Northern Ireland. In addition to cheese, Dale Farm produces milk, cream, powders, butter and dairy spreads and yoghurt. It sells products throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland and in 45 countries worldwide. It also operates processing plants in Scotland (Rowan Glen) and at Kendall in England (Loseley).