Regenerative cheddar wins Gold at British Cheese Awards

Golden Hooves Vintage Cheddar, a regeneratively farmed cheese launched only last year, has scooped a coveted Gold accolade at the British Cheese Awards. Impressing the panel during the blind tasted judging session, the Vintage Cheddar also went onto win a Silver award in the Packaging category, in recognition of the product’s innovative sleeve and regenerative messaging within.

Held at the Bath & West Showground in Somerset, this year’s British Cheese Awards saw over 600 entries from across the UK and Ireland assessed in a single day by a panel of 63 judges, before prizes were handed out to the top cheeses. Up against many of the UK’s most respected cheesemakers, Golden Hooves Vintage Cheddar was the only product to win Gold in the Vintage Traditional Cheddar class.

Launched by British farmer-owned dairy co-operative, First Milk in Spring 2023, Golden Hooves was created to celebrate the work of the co-op’s farmers and fly the flag for regenerative dairy farming. The award-winning Vintage Cheddar joined the range last September and is now available alongside Golden Hooves Mature Cheddar exclusively in independent stores, including delis, food halls and farm shops.

Leona McDonald, director of Golden Hooves, commented:

“We definitely felt like the new kids on the block, but this award makes us feel like we’ve truly arrived among the Cheddar heavyweights. We have a wonderful team who have helped make this happen, but we would be nowhere without the incredible regeneratively farmed milk and the farmers who produce it for us. This award will help us on our journey to raise awareness of regeneratively farmed products and help people make better choices every day. Not everyone yet understands what regen is and how positive an impact it can have, and by creating delicious products that are accessible to all, we hope to change that.”

Using grazing cows to work the land with their hooves, Golden Hooves farms are taking steps to continually encourage plant and wildlife biodiversity, protect the soil and maintain living roots, a process which is believed to remove carbon from the atmosphere and sequester it into the soil. Part of First Milk’s commitment to continual improvement, these activities are supported by extensive research to measure the impact that these initiatives are having on the soil.

Following First Milk’s launch of Golden Hooves Cheddar last year, the business has achieved a number of significant awards and certifications, including the King’s Award for Enterprise for Sustainable Development, as well as B-Corporation certification. In January, Golden Hooves was listed in The Good Shopping Guide’s Top 200 Ethical Businesses for 2024, placing the brand at the forefront of ethical dairy farming, as it continues to represent the collective sustainability efforts of the co-op’s 700 members.

Golden Hooves Mature Cheddar and Vintage Cheddar are available to purchase from independent retailers across the UK, as well as online at thecheesemarket.co.uk for £3.95 / £4.45 per 200g pack.

For more information, visit www.goldenhooves.co.uk.