Local MP for Richmond (Yorks), Rishi Sunak, made a visit to the Wensleydale Creamery, following what has been an incredibly busy few months for the Yorkshire Dales-based business.
Its popular Visitor Centre in Hawes has enjoyed a particularly successful summer, seeing turnover up by 15% on the previous year and 4% growth on pre-pandemic numbers from 2019. This has been largely driven by innovation and adapting quickly in response to changing consumer trends and budgets.
The Wensleydale Creamery has also continued to invest and develop, bringing in a range of initiatives to grow its presence in the market locally, nationally and internationally.
During his visit, Rishi Sunak MP saw the newly rebranded packaging for its Yorkshire Wensleydale and Yorkshire Wensleydale & Cranberries cheese packs, which are currently launching in retailers across the UK to elevate its retail presence and capture a new generation of cheese lovers.
On show for the visit were samples of naturally smoked cheese. All have been produced in the Creamery’s brand-new cheese smoker, where significant investment has allowed the business to increase its natural cheese smoking capacity from 400 to 1000 tonnes per annum. It will also allow them to fulfil a range of natural smoked cheese flavours for its range alongside contract smoking for other markets.
The visit was hosted in the Visitor Centre’s impressive new ‘Taste of Yorkshire’ Tasting Room, where Rishi Sunak MP was invited to sample some of the range, including the popular Wensleydale Blue and three of the artisan cheesemaker’s newest truckle flavours, including: Yorkshire Wensleydale & Pineapple, Fountains Gold Garlic & Herb, and Fountains Gold Naturally Oak Smoked Cheddar.
During the walk around he was also given an update on the success and growth of the ecommerce offering to become an all-year-round business, whilst viewing the range of new hampers which are available for Christmas.
To complete the visit, the Prime Minister met the team in the Cheese shop where he tried his hand at cutting and packing cheese, before enjoying lunch in Calvert’s restaurant.
Chris Thomson, Managing Director of the Wensleydale Creamery, commented:
“It was fantastic to host our local MP and Prime Minister and welcome him back to the Creamery. Since his last visit we’ve experienced so many positive business developments and success; it’s a really exciting time for us. Not only have we seen our visitors to the Creamery return to pre-pandemic numbers, but innovation continues across the whole business.”
Mr Sunak, added:
“The Wensleydale Creamery plays such an important role in the local community, driving footfall to the area and putting Yorkshire Wensleydale Cheese on the map not just nationally, but also internationally. Seeing the success it’s had this year, and also the level of investment the team are committing to its growth, makes me incredibly proud to have it as part of my local constituency.”
For more information about the Wensleydale Creamery, visit: https://www.wensleydale.co.uk/
