THE Wensleydale Creamery at Hawes has stepped up to round-the-clock production as it gears up for one of its busiest times of the year.

Christmas is one of our busiest times of year and we have ramped up production to meet the increase in demand for our cheeses.

Phil Jones - The Wensleydale Creamery

The months of October, November and December account for around 40 per cent of annual sales at the Yorkshire Dales Creamery, which is famed for its links with the Oscar-winning Wallace and Gromit characters.

The company introduced double shift working patterns from October, to a round-the-clock operation as it deals with increased levels of business in the run-up to the festive period in order to meet demand from retailers and orders being placed by customers through its website - www.wensleydale.co.uk.

The business is on track to produce more than two million units including waxed cheese truckles and varieties for special festive gift packs. Its popular Real Yorkshire Wensleydale with Cranberries, especially during the festive period, accounting for a large share of this work.

Two new varieties have been introduced to its miniature waxed cheese truckle collection; Real Yorkshire Wensleydale with Papaya and Mango and Abbot’s Gold Cheddar with Caramelised Onion.

Phil Jones, The Wensleydale Creamery’s Sales Director, said: “Christmas is one of our busiest times of year and we have ramped up production to meet the increase in demand for our cheeses.

“The Christmas production lines includes the festive favourite of Real Yorkshire Wensleydale with Cranberries and our special gift packs including a Wallace & Gromit ‘Crackers about Cheese’ gift pack which contains an eye catching jar of ‘Middle Age Spread’ caramelised onion chutney, a packet of crackers, and of course a Wallace & Gromit Real Yorkshire Wensleydale waxed cheese truckle.”