Dewlay, which is based in Garstang and is famous for its Lancashire varieties of Tasty, Creamy and Crumbly, is creating a dedicated Cheese Board to help sample its products and provide a helping hand in creating new ones, which could appear in local stores, independent delis and supermarkets nationwide.

Nick Kenyon, the company’s managing director, wants to recruit around 15 cheese lovers from across the region to sit on the panel which will meet biannually.

Commenting Nick said; “We know there is an appetite out there for consumers to share their opinions with us – we regularly receive positive feedback on our products and ideas for new ones.”

Those selected will be invited to the dairy in Garstang to learn more about Dewlay and its cheese, as well as hear speakers from across the cheese industry as well as cooking classes from top chefs across the region.

Nick added: “We want to make the Board as interactive and educational as possible and are keen that the members really get something out of it. We will be arranging presentations from well respected and knowledgeable people within the cheese industry and the panel will get the opportunity to see how we make our cheese first hand!”

Dewlay are wanting a wide mix of people to be involved in this innovative scheme, with anyone over the age of 18 able to apply who want to share their views and thoughts on Dewlay cheese as well as learn more about this exciting and well established industry.

Does this sound up your street? Anyone interested in joining the Cheese Board should call Dewlay on 01995 602335 to register for an application form or visit the website where a downloadable form is available at this link

Leading Lancashire cheese maker Dewlay has scooped several gold awards and a clutch of trophies this week at the world’s leading cheese festival, the International Cheese Awards, staged at the Nantwich Show [27th-28th July].

The Garstang-based producer won accolades in ten categories, claiming six gold prizes, two trophies, three silvers and three bronzes, against 3,000 cheese entries from 24 countries.

The awards included the Haughmond Trophy for Dewlay’s Farmhouse Tasty Lancashire in the Farmhouse Territorial Cheese category, which they won for the second year on the trot. Also the Berkel Trophy for the Crumbly Lancashire in the hotly contested Block Territorial Cheese category.

Dewlay’s Production Director Richard Kenyon, said: “This is a fabulous result. In total, we won 14 awards which is a testament to the hard work that goes into making our Lancashire cheese the best not only in Lancashire, but in the world.

“We were especially proud to win the Berkel Trophy [Block Territorial Cheese] and the Haughmond Trophy [Traditional Territorial Cheese] again because both of these were against the whole range of territorial cheeses, including Red Leicester and Double Gloucester varieties in block and traditional format respectively,” he concluded.

As well as leading the way in the world of cheese, Dewlay is also streets ahead of its competitors when it comes to green issues. The company is installing a wind turbine at its Garstang site this September which will make it the first UK cheese maker to be powered by renewable energy.

Leading Lancashire cheese maker, Dewlay, scooped an impressive four awards at this year’s prestigious Royal Bath and West agricultural show at Shepton Mallet, Somerset (June 2 – 5 2010).

A panel of expert graders awarded the Garstang-based company an impressive two golds and two bronzes in this year’s hotly-contested competition.

The awards included a gold and a bronze in the Creamy Lancashire Cheese section and another gold and a bronze in the Tasty Lancashire Cheese class.

Dewlay’s production director Richard Kenyon said: “Dewlay is already well-known for its high-quality cheeses but to be recognised in this way, at one of the leading shows in the UK, is a great achievement.

“We are thrilled with the results and appreciate the fact that these awards recognise the investment we have put into making Dewlay cheese the best of its kind,” he added.

This year’s show attracted record entries and attendance, with more than 850 entries in the cheese section alone, an increase of more than 150 on the previous year.

The show’s Steward of the Dairy Section, Julius Longman, commented: “Well done to Dewlay for its fantastic success against some very stiff competition.
This year’s show has seen record attendance, with 250,000 visitors over the four days, and the highest number of entries ever in the dairy section.”

Dewlay is also leading the way as the first UK cheese maker to be powered by renewable energy, with the installation of a wind turbine this autumn.

The company already takes its green credentials seriously and sources its milk from 10 dedicated farmers within five road miles of the dairy. It supplies a large number of regional outlets to cut down on unnecessary food miles and employs staff from the local area.

Leading Lancashire cheese producer, Dewlay, has announced plans for a 126m wind turbine at its site in Garstang, making it the first UK cheese maker to be powered by renewable energy.

Established in 1957, the family-run business which is famous for quality Lancashire cheeses including Garstang Blue, confirmed today that it plans to have the wind turbine fully operational by October of this year.

The announcement by Dewlay, underpins the cheese maker’s commitment to the environment and comes in the wake of the UK dairy industry’s efforts to increase the use of renewable energy and reduce carbon emissions.

The turbine will be erected on Dewlay’s own 18 acre green field site behind its cheese manufacturing and packaging facility, with contractors starting on site in May to install the turbine in September.

Commenting on the news, operational director, Nick Kenyon said; “As a business, we are fully committed to our environmental objectives and are excited to be at the forefront of this technology.

“The dairy industry accounts for a high proportion of the country’s carbon emissions and we are confident that the wind turbine will reduce our own emissions by 2,260 tonnes per year, paving the way forward for the rest of the industry.”

Third generation cheesemaker, Nick added: “Garstang is famous as the world’s first Fairtrade town and we hope that this will raise the region’s profile even further and prompt other UK cheese manufacturers to take their environmental responsibilities to the next level.”

“We see this as just another step on our journey to reduce our carbon footprint and become a more sustainable manufacturer.”

Dewlay takes its green credentials seriously and sources its milk from 10 dedicated farmers within five road miles of the dairy. It supplies a large number of regional outlets to cut down on unnecessary food miles and employs staff from the local area.

The company has planted hundreds of trees around the site and also maintains green areas to protect the natural flora and fauna.

Other green initiatives include more efficient use of water, recycling of clean plastic and cardboard, and thinner, recyclable film for sliced packs of cheese.

And Dairy UK, the voice of the dairy industry has given its full backing for Dewlay’s project to build a wind turbine at their site in Garstang. Commenting Fergus McReynolds, environmental manager said:

“Initiatives like this are a great example of ways in which the dairy sector can keep improving its environmental performance. We hope to see more moves towards renewable energy in the future, as farmers and processors work to meet ambitious green targets set out in the Milk Roadmap.

“As part of the Milk Roadmap, by 2015 10% of non-transport energy used by large processors in the sector will come from renewable sources, or combined heat and power systems. We are also aiming for energy use to continue to fall, as well as water use, waste to landfill and greenhouse gas emissions. The dairy industry is making milk greener.”

The cheesemaker is also keen to get the local community involved in the project and will be inviting children from across the region to design and decorate their own turbine, as well as to enter a competition to name it and to attend the official launch, which is planned for October.

For all media enquires, please contact Emma Beardsley or Diane Inglis at Souter on 0161 486 9102 / 07946 899590 or email emma@souter-rmc.co.uk

Artist impression of the wind turbine to be installed at Dewlay Cheesemakers