Milk Link have succeeded at the Mid-Somerset Show in Shepton Mallet, Somerset, with its Creameries collecting 33 awards for its cheeses. Taw Valley Creamery, in North Tawton, Devon scooped a staggering 27 awards at the show.

Taw Valley Creamery’s awards haul included five trophies and 11 gold prizes. Trophies awarded to the Creamery included the Stratton Sales Seven Counties Cup; the Matthews & Skailes Perpetual Challenge Cup for the Champion Cheese; the Stan Ash Memorial Cup for the Overall Winner of Cheddar Cheesemakers; the Sturminster Creamery Cup for the Overall Winner of Open Classes; and fourth place in the Danisco Grand Prix for ‘Finest Mature Cheddar Cheese’. Whilst gold prizes were awarded for excellence in the following categories:

*Mild Cheddar Cheese 
*Mature Cheddar Cheese 
*Extra Mature Cheddar Cheese 
*Vintage Cheddar Cheese 
*Mild Cheddar Cheese 
*Mature Cheddar Cheese 
*Extra Mature Cheddar Cheese 
*Vintage Cheddar Cheese 
*Double Gloucester 
*Organic Cheddar 
*Speciality Cheese 

Milk Link’s Tuxford and Tebbutt Creamery, in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire won two gold awards for the quality of its Stilton, including silver and bronze awards in the same category.

Taw Valley Creamery also won six silver prizes in the Mild Cheddar Cheese; Mature Cheddar Cheese; Mild Cheddar Cheese; Mature Cheddar Cheese; Organic Cheddar and Reduced Fat Cheese categories, whilst Llandyrnog Creamery was awarded one in the Single Extra Mature Cheddar Cheese category. 

The results delighted the Chief Executive of Milk Link Neil Kennedy who said: “Our expert cheese makers deserve this recognition for their flair, dedication and skills which deliver the really exceptional taste and quality of our products. 

“The acknowledgement here at the Mid-Somerset Show for the excellence of our Taw Valley, Tuxford & Tebbutt and Llandyrnog creameries makes me and everyone involved with Milk Link very proud. It also makes us determined to build on this success at future shows which are so important to the British dairy industry and in particular our farmers.”