Russia holds promise for Belton Cheese
Speaking to FoodManufacture.co.uk at the Nantwich Cheese Show, held in Nantwich, Cheshire, at the end of last month, Luxton said: “Exports are exciting this year and we are seeing growth year-on-year there. We are supplying America directly and have distribution across the US.
“We also export to Russia now. We are one of the relatively few [cheese] manufacturers to have accreditation to trade with the Russian Federation and we see this as having potential.”
Red Fox
In the US, interest was being driven by aged products and Red Fox, a newcomer to the company’s range which it described as a novel take on Red Leicester-style cheese. Distribution to retail chain Publix is handled through US outfit Anco Fine Cheese.
Variants of the product were already stocked by top UK supermarket chains such as Morrisons, said Luxton.
“Red Fox took five to six years to develop … lots of activity and trial work. It’s matured for up to 18 months and is a great blend of caramel, sweet and savoury flavours.”
In addition to Russia and the US, general product distribution now also stretched into South Africa, Australia and mainland Europe, Luxton added.
‘Artisan skills’
He believed there was a real appetite overseas for handmade English speciality cheeses. “We have focused on products of the highest quality for UK export markets. We have not invested heavily in automation. We still use the artisan skills of cheese makers.”
The strong export growth would not stop Belton Cheese from continuing to hold its own in the UK as well, Luxton stressed.
Amid rising milk prices and tough competition in domestic markets, Belton Cheese had still seen significant general volume sales growth in the past 10 years, from 4,000t to 7,000t, he claimed.
In addition to 12 gold, seven silver and 10 bronze awards at the Nantwich Cheese Show, the business won five trophies, including the Tesco Red Leicester Trophy for Champion Red Leicester.
Belton Cheese is based at Belton Farm, Whitchurch in Shropshire, employs 75 people and makes a range of traditional cheeses, stretching from Double Gloucester to Wensleydale.
