Gold For Fivemiletown In World Cheese Awards
Northern Ireland's Fivemiletown Creamery has won gold for its Boilíe, a unique Irish soft goats' cheese, at the prestigious World Cheese Awards in London.
The artisan creamery, a farmers' co-operative in County Tyrone, also gained a silver award for its naturally smoked Oakwood Cheddar and bronze for its O'Reilly's Original goats' cheese and its mild cheddar in the annual competition organised by the UK Guild of Fine Food. The competition has been running for over 20 years.
Fivemiletown Creamery's products were among more than 2,500 cheeses from over 30 countries. The awards were judged rigorously by a high-profile panel of judges in what is now the world's largest and most prestigious cheese competition.
The awards are the most recent in an impressive series won by the creamery, which sources high quality milk from local farmers. The creamery, owned by a 60-strong group of farmers, also gained awards at the Nantwich International Cheese Festival, the UK Great Taste Awards and the International Dairy Federation event in Parma, Italy.
Mervyn McCaughey, Fivemiletown Creamery's managing director, commenting on the World Cheese Awards, said: "Winning three medals, including a gold for our unique Boilíe product, in this immensely important event for the international cheese industry is tremendously encouraging and will support our drive to boost sales in Great Britain, the Republic of Ireland and further afield.
"Our Boilíe Irish goats' cheese is rapidly becoming a ‘hero' product which is attracting sales throughout Europe and most recently to China. Boilíe Irish Goat's Cheese, features a distinctive flavour which cheese lovers are increasingly seeking. It's one of the products behind the significant growth in sales of speciality cheese that we've experienced over the past two years. We anticipate further growth in sales of this cheese in international markets over the next few years."
Made to a traditional recipe, Boilíe features pearls of soft, creamy cheese marinaded with herbs and peppercorns in a garlic infused oil. The cheese is deal for salads, snacks and picnics, and the oil is perfect for a dressing.
Fivemiletown Creamery is Northern Ireland's only producer of handmade soft cheese, and has achieved Red Tractor quality accreditation.
The creamery currently employs 80 people in the production of cheddars and soft cheeses including brie, blue brie and goat's cheeses. It was the first company in Europe to produce a smoked brie and the first in Ireland to launch a blue brie.
SOURCE: Fivemiletown