Wales’ oldest dairy farmers’ co-operative is celebrating its most successful awards season ever after their cheeses scooped 30 gongs.
South Caernarfon Creameries (SCC) came home to the Llyn Peninsula with 10 prizes from the prestigious International Cheese and Dairy Awards in Nantwich, the largest cheese show in the world which featured cheeses from 29 different countries.
Among the winners was their Dragon brand half fat and reduced fat cheddars which won gold and silver prizes respectively, while their Welsh red cheddar scooped both gold and silver.
It comes hot on the heels of a major success for SCC at the Royal Welsh Show, where the co-operative won 20 awards.
The Dragon brand Reduced Fat cheese was hailed both Supreme Cheese, making it the best in show at the Royal Welsh, and Best Welsh cheese, making it the best cheese made in Wales.
It follows an exciting re-brand of the much-loved range of Dragon cheeses made by SCC, which is this year celebrating its 80th anniversary and employs 130 staff at its base near Pwllheli on the Llyn Peninsula.
All of SCC’s Dragon range of cheeses, ranging from mild to vintage, are made using milk sourced 100% from its Welsh farming members, and every block can be traced back to the cow.
“This has been a fantastic show season for everyone at South Caernarfon Creameries,” said SCC managing director Alan Wyn Jones.
“To bring home 10 awards from Nantwich and 20 from the Royal Welsh including Supreme Cheese and Best Welsh Cheese is a wonderful achievement which we are very proud of.
It’s the ultimate accolade to have this recognition from two of the industry’s top shows and it’s a testament to the quality of the milk produced by our farming members across North and Mid Wales.
“It is also a seal of approval for our cheesemakers who continually work hard to refine and improve our products.
“In particular we have put a lot of effort into improving the taste and texture of the Reduced Fat cheddar and we are delighted the judges agreed that we have a wonderful cheese made here in Wales which I hope everyone will try.”
A new special occasion cheese made with Penderyn whisky was launched by SCC simultaneously at the Royal Welsh Show and Nantwich Show, in celebration of the co-operative’s 80th anniversary.
Made with vintage Dragon cheddar aged in the Llechwedd slate caverns of Blaenau Ffestiniog, it is then infused with the award-winning Penderyn whisky.
South Caernarfon Creameries was established in 1938 by 63 local farmers.
The creamery, which processes more than 120 million litres of Welsh milk each year, still occupies its original site at Rhydygwystl, near Chwilog.
The company produces a range of cheese and butter products and produces around 12,500t of cheese a year.
The co-operative has launched a recruitment drive for new farming members to supply milk. There are currently 125 supplying members and SCC remains Wales’ leading farmer-owned co-operative.
Over the last four years, SCC has invested £12 million in a cheese production facility as well as the redevelopment of its cheese packing plant.
