Double boost for Shropshire cheese company
A Shropshire cheesemaker has received a double business boost with new contracts to sell its product in a national supermarket chain, and a link-up with a distributor in Russia.
Belton Cheese's brand of Shropshire Blue is to be sold to retailers around the growing economic super-power after the Whitchurch-based company agreed an export deal.
It comes at the same time as the company is celebrating getting another of its 11 varieties of cheese into the Co-op supermarkets, with the national chain, which has branches throughout Shropshire, listing the product in 324 of its stores.
The international success for Belton, which employs 77 people in Shropshire, comes on the back of various other overseas deals, in Australia, South Africa and Japan, while sales in the USA alone have grown 13 per cent year-on-year, after a distribution deal was signed in the country via Anco.
Justin Beckett, Belton Cheese managing director, said: "This is fantastic news and it's difficult to convey just how happy we are to see our products reach such distant markets in quick succession. It is the ultimate testament to the products we develop."
The Red Fox line, a Red Leicester which is matured for 18 months, is the line of cheese which will be stocked in the UK supermarkets, having also found its way into Morrisons deli counters recently.
The Co-op is also to increase distribution of Belton's brand of Cheshire cheese, with 200g packs added to shelves.
Milica White, senior national account manager at Belton Cheese, added: "The demand for Red Fox from independent delis through to retailers in both the UK and overseas reinforces just how unique a product it is.
"We are thrilled to be supplying so many Co-op stores with this cheese and are delighted that it will be on shelves in its original Belton Cheese Red Fox branded pack."
Belton takes its milk from 80 farms within a 25-mile radius of its factory.
