Price rise boost for Shropshire farmers as Red Fox cheese a hit

Belton Cheese, which is based at Belton Farm in Whitchurch, will pay its farmers 33p for each litre of milk they produce form December 1.

The firm previously paid 32.25p per litre. Alison Taylor, marketing manager for the firm, said the success of its new Red Fox cheese in both domestic and overseas markets had helped make the increase possible.

"We are pleased to announce our milk price will increase by 0.75p per litre taking our base litre price to 33.0ppl," she said.

"This is a straightforward price increase to our producer's bottom line, with no strings or alterations to their contract.

"We have achieved this increase by adding value through innovation and new product development, including our new brand Red Fox.

"We have also seen increased sales from both domestic and export markets. With our focus on export sales we are seeing double digit growth in 2013."

Launched in 2011 the Red Fox cheese is handmade at Belton Farm and received a Good Housekeeping Food Award in May, followed by a hat-trick of awards at The Cream Awards in September.

Farmers in Shropshire and across the UK have long claimed prices firms pay for milk are too low with angry protests held outside the Muller Wiseman dairy in Market Drayton. Olly Cartwright, spokesman for the Shropshire branch of the National Farmers' Union, said: "We are seeing real positive changes in the dairy sector and we have always said that more still needs to be done.

"However, price rises like this are welcome. Often the average farm gate price is not a fair reflection of the value of milk as other costs go up for farmers but we have seen welcome improvements in the tail end of the year.

"Belton Cheese is a progressive business producing a great product and it is welcome to see them moving in the right direction."