The team at North Yorkshire-based Shepherds Purse Cheeses is celebrating after winning the Supreme Champion Cheese Award for their Organic Yorkshire Blue at the Great Yorkshire Show Cheese & Dairy Awards.
The family-run company, which produces a range of handcrafted cheeses from its farm near Thirsk, took home a total of 20 medals at the prestigious event, which attracts entries from producers across the UK and Europe.
Alongside taking the competition’s top spot, Organic Yorkshire Blue was named Best Organic Product, while their Buffalo Blue won both the Best Blue and Best Specialist Cheese Makers categories.
In total, Shepherds Purse earned nine gold medals across their Harrogate Blue, Mrs Bell’s Blue, Buffalo Blue, and Organic Yorkshire Blue, as well as four silver and four bronze medals for Northern Blue and Mrs Bell’s Salad Cheese.
Entries were judged by a panel of industry experts, including technical specialists, cheesemongers, wholesalers, and food writers, who sampled hundreds of products across 75 classes covering cheese, milk, butter, yoghurt, and ice cream.
Mild and creamy with grassy, herbaceous notes, Organic Yorkshire Blue was launched in 2024 to mark the company’s 35th anniversary and became the first cheese in the Shepherds Purse range made using local organic milk sourced from Acorn Dairy.
Joint Managing Director Katie Matten said: “The Great Yorkshire Show is now becoming one of the UK’s most respected dairy competitions, attracting entries from many of the country’s leading cheesemakers. To be recognised across so many categories, and to be awarded the competition’s highest honour for our Organic Yorkshire Blue is a tremendous achievement for everyone here at Shepherds Purse.
“These awards are a reflection of the dedication and expertise of our entire team. From sourcing exceptional milk to carefully handcrafting every cheese, we’re incredibly proud of everyone involved in producing cheeses that continue to be recognised among the very best in Britain.”
Established in the 1980s by Judy Bell MBE, Shepherds Purse is run by her two daughters, Caroline Bell and Katie Matten. Their range of handcrafted cow, ewe, and buffalo milk cheeses is available nationwide in supermarkets, farm shops, and independent retailers.
