Thieves rob London cheesemaker Neal’s Yard of £300,000 worth of valuable cheddar in…

October 26, 2024, 9:55 AM | Updated: October 26, 2024, 10:02 AM

Hundreds of wheels of cheddar worth more than £300,000 have been stolen from Neal’s Yard Dairy.

The Southwark-based cheese company said scammers posing as legitimate French wholesalers stole 950 wheels from Hafod, Westcombe and Pitchfork Cheddar.

Neal’s Yard said they only discovered the theft after the expensive, award-winning cheeses were delivered to the fraudulent buyers.

In a statement on their website, the artisan cheesemakers said: “Despite the significant financial hit, we have kept our commitment to our small-scale suppliers and have paid all three artisan cheesemakers in full.

“The company is now taking steps to address the situation and ensure both the financial stability and continued development of the UK artisan cheese sector.”

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The Met Police confirmed an investigation is ongoing and no arrests have been made.

Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver posted an appeal on his Instagram account urging people to be wary of buying stolen cheese.

Oliver said: ‘If anyone hears anything about cheap cheese, it’s probably untruths.

“It seems very strange to steal: 22 tons of the best cheese in the world has disappeared!

“Stand behind this, support our boys, it’s the big cheese robbery.”

Trust is paramount in the artisanal cheese sector, says Patrick Holden, the owner of the dairy farm where Hafod Cheddar is made.

Patrick said: “The breach of trust by this fraudulent customer is a violation of the spirit of good faith and respect that has personified all of Neal’s Yard Dairy’s trading relationships over the years.

“It may have caused a setback for the business, but the level of trust that exists within our small sector as a whole is in no small part due to the ethos of the founders of Neal’s Yard Dairy.”

Neal’s Yard is counting on the support of its customers to help them recover from the financial blow.

They said: “We encourage customers to continue to support us in the coming months by choosing our cheeses, knowing that every purchase supports our commitment to the small-scale producers we champion.

Anyone offered or receiving cheeses they believe may be linked to this theft, particularly 10kg or 24kg linen-bound Cheddars with the tags removed, are encouraged to contact info@nealsyarddairy .co.uk.