117 finalists and over 500 cheeses to compete for 16 category and Supreme Champion awards in Melton Mowbray on 26 April 2018
117 cheese makers from across the UK and Ireland will compete for this year’s Supreme Champion award at the Artisan Cheese Awards 2018, to be held in Melton Mowbray on 26 April 2018.
Over 500 entries from across the British Isles will be judged at St Mary’s Church (also home to the British Pie Awards). More than 100 of these cheeses have been produced by 25 of the top Irish artisan cheese makers, a record for the Artisan Cheese Awards.
A number of the winners and entrants from this year’s Artisan Cheese Awards will be present at the Artisan Cheese Fair, to be held at Melton Livestock Market from 5-6 May 2018.
Sponsors for this year’s Artisan Cheese Awards include: Fine Cheese Co, Paul Thomas Consultancy, Melton Town Estate, NFU, Bradbury’s Cheese, Bentons, A La Carte Packaging Solutions, Marks & Spencer, Melton Mowbray Food Partnership, Vegetarian Society, Melton Borough Council, Harvey and Brockless, Neal’s Yard, Howes Percival LLP and La Fromagerie.
Organiser of the awards, Matthew O’Callaghan from the Melton Mowbray Food Partnership, said: “I’m really delighted to have so many of Ireland’s incredible cheeses coming over here for the awards and the fair. However, there are a lot of award-winning cheeses produced in the UK as well, from the tip of Scotland right down to Cornwall, and there’s a great deal of excitement as to who will win the coveted Supreme Champion trophy with a £1,000 cash prize.
“After the judging, there will be a chance for the public to sample some of their favourites at a special event at 7pm in the church. Awards organisers have got together with the church to host a ‘Cheese Feast’ where, for £5, cheese lovers can wander round and taste some of the finest cheeses in the British Isles washed down with a complimentary glass of wine. All of the money raised will go to the St Mary’s restoration fund. This is the first time we’ve done this and we are hoping lots of people come along.”
