YOU cheddar believe it!

A local cheese manufacturer has proved it is ‘grate’ by scooping 14 gongs at the British Cheese Awards 2015.

Ford Farm, based in Litton Cheney, swept the cheese-board at the annual awards which were presented at the popular Royal Bath and West Country show at the end of last month.

The firm won five gold awards, five silvers, three bronze and also bagged one overall trophy for its Wookey Hole Cave Aged as the best PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) cheddar of the competition.

It is a record-breaking haul of awards for the firm, and it has capped a very busy year for the firm as staff spent hours painstakingly ensuring their cheeses melted the judges’ hearts.

Mike Pullin, director at Ford Farm, said he was delighted with the awards and has predicted a boom in business following the accolades, as customers would respect and trust the firm more.

He said: “Consumers are much more savvy nowadays and are far more likely to place their trust in a credible third party than a brand’s own advertising.

“The British Cheese Awards, which is followed by British Cheese Week, is becoming more widely recognised by the general public as the benchmark for quality and flavour.”

He added: “Being able to place a sticker on our cheese announcing our achievements is a guarantee of increased sales.”

Ford Farm, which is based at the Ashley Chase Estate in the West Dorset village, is no stranger to prestigious accolades, having also scooped the Queen’s Award for Enterprise earlier in 2015 after success with its Coastal Cheddar Cheese.

The Farm’s Coastal Cheddar, a 15-month mature cheddar which is characterised by a distinctive crunch due to the naturally occurring calcium lactate crystals which form as the cheese ages, was a recipient of a gold medal in the export category – yet further recognition for a brand that has given Ford Farm a strong foothold across the Atlantic in the USA.