22,000kg of cheese stolen after London dairy was duped by fake distributors | Popular

Through a carefully planned scheme, robbers posing as wholesale distributors of a leading French retailer managed to defraud London‘s Neal’s Yard Dairy made off with a whopping 22 tons of luxury cheddar, The Metro reported. The theft, which involved more than 950 wheels of high-quality artisan cheddar, has rocked the cheese industry and left the dairy company and its partners facing a significant financial setback.

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The scam unfolds

The robbery, which targeted the Neal’s Yard Dairy warehouse in Southwark, involved thieves who presented themselves as legitimate suppliers to a well-known French outlet. Convinced by the fraudsters’ ruse, dairy workers entrusted the valuable cargo in what they believed was a routine transaction. Only after the goods disappeared did the dairy discover the extensive fraud.

The Metropolitan Police, who are currently investigating the case, shared: “On Monday 21 October we received a report of the theft of a large quantity of cheese from a Southwark manufacturer. The circumstances are being investigated.” Authorities have not yet made any arrests in connection with the theft.

Small-scale producers compensated by Neal’s Yard Dairy

Despite the huge loss, Neal’s Yard Dairy has committed to compensating the small-scale cheesemakers affected by the theft: Hafod, Westcombe and Pitchfork. These producers, known for their high-quality, handcrafted cheddar, have been spared financial consequences thanks to Neal’s Yard Dairy’s decision to shoulder the burden of the theft.

This support underlines the dairy’s commitment to its producers amid an unprecedented incident. With a loss estimated at around £300,000 (over ₹3 crore), the stolen goods represent a significant portion of Neal’s Yard’s cheddar inventory, impacting both the company and its artisans.

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Jamie Oliver regrets ‘epic’ cheese heist

Celebrity chef and restaurateur Jamie Oliver took to Instagram to express his shock at the theft, raising awareness of the incident on social media. “In a shocking turn of events, Neal’s Yard Dairy has become the victim of a brazen robbery of epic proportions,” he wrote, highlighting the substantial value of the cheddar catch.

“Thieves posing as a wholesale supplier to a French retailer have duped warehouse staff at Neal’s Yard Dairy in London. The precious shipment of valuable artisan cheddar was shipped in good faith but disappeared without a trace,” Oliver added.

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As the investigation continues, the incident has put the cheese community on edge, with hopes that the case will lead to greater vigilance on supply chain security.