Club's taste of cheese trade

Carter Jonas concluded their winter series of Shrewsbury Farmers Breakfast Club meetings with an excellent presentation by Justin Beckett from Belton Cheese, Whitchurch.

Almost 40 people were given a comprehensive background to the business as well as the dairy industry in general.

Mr Beckett explained that Belton Cheese is a family owned business which in two generations has grown from a small firm operating from the farmhouse to one which produces about 6,000 tonnes of cheese each year. Milk is supplied by 60 local producers, 13 of which are organic.

Belton Cheese were award winners in the Tesco cheese challenge 2007 with a new rinded cheese which is now on sale and they continue to introduce new lines.

Mr Beckett said the main influences on the cheese industry now were the buying power of the four main supermarkets which account for 85 per cent of all sales. Droughts in Australia and New Zealand are also affecting supply.

The Shrewsbury Farmers Breakfast Club resumes meetings in November. If you are interested in membership contact Judith Terry at Carter Jonas on 01939 210011.