A Thirsk based artisan cheese company are celebrating after scooping a host of prestigious industry awards this summer.
Family run Shepherds Purse Cheeses were awarded a total of 11 accolades at last week’s Great Yorkshire Show in Harrogate including 5 golds for Yorkshire Blue, Buffalo Blue and Mrs Bell’s Blue amongst others.
They also took first second and third place in the Consumer Choice Blue Cheese competition with their Yorkshire and Harrogate Blue’s which is judged by 50 people at the show.
The GYS awards come hot on the heels of another host of trophies having won a gold and two bronzes at the recent British Cheese Awards held at the Bath and West Show Ground in Somerset in June.
Now in their 26 year, the annual awards attract over 800 entries from across the UK and Ireland and look to recognise excellence nationally across the industry.
Bluemin White was awarded the top honour in the Soft White Blue category taking home a gold, while the 2 bronzes were given to Yorkshire Fettle and Mrs Bells Blue in the Non-Cows Milk and Blue Goat/Sheep/Buffalo categories respectively.
Shepherds Purse Director Caroline Bell said: “We’re absolutely thrilled with our recent success at the Great Yorkshire Show and British Cheese Awards. They’re a great showcase of the fantastic cheese produced throughout the UK and we’re delighted to be amongst the winners in such huge and well-respected competitions.”
Shepherds Purse Cheeses are available at independent retailers and selected supermarkets throughout the regions and online www.shepherdspurse.co.uk