THE Wensleydale Creamery has welcomed Government figures that show its cheese has helped boost British food exports.

According to UK Trade and Investment (UKTI), the Government export agency, cheese sales abroad have been exceptionally strong in the nine-month period to September 2008 – up 22.3 percent to £209 million.

These export figures are good news for The Wensleydale Creamery and our suppliers

David Hartley - Wensleydale Creamery

UKTI said that Real Yorkshire Wensleydale, which is handcrafted by The Wensleydale Creamery based at Hawes in North Yorkshire, was a star performer.

The Wensleydale Creamery, which employs 198 people, sells nearly £2m worth of its cheese overseas each year.

America and Canada are its key export markets with sales to these countries increasing by around 23 per cent during the last couple of years.

Last year it landed several substantial trans-Atlantic contracts after attending an international food show in New York.

Its popularity over the pond is believed to be linked to the success of the Oscar-winning Wallace and Gromit with the animated duo being well-known fans of Real Yorkshire Wensleydale cheese.

Two of The Wensleydale Creamery’s cheeses, Real Yorkshire Wensleydale with Ocean Spray Cranberries and Abbot’s Gold Cheddar with Caramelised Onion have gone from strength to strength in the US market.

David Hartley, The Wensleydale Creamery’s Managing Director, said: “These export figures are good news for The Wensleydale Creamery and our suppliers, including more than 40 local family farms, which supply us with milk.

“The British market is also really important to us and while America is buying more, it has to be hoped that British supermarkets won’t buy less as a result of economic pressures.”

Recently it also has won major orders nearer to home.

These include a contract to supply Waitrose with own label blended cheese to its stores nationwide, which will add about £1m to The Wensleydale Creamery’s annual turnover. It follows the installation of the new ‘state of the art’ cheese blending, cutting and packing equipment at a cost of over £360,000.

It is also supplying a range of blended cheeses to The Co-operative, which are sold under The Co-operative’s own brand label.