Brinkworth Dairy with its cheeses, ice cream, butter, yogurt, cream milk and honey is a fine food force to be reckoned with.
From farmers’ markets, wholesalers and shops to pubs and restaurants across London and the South West, its dairy delicacies are snapped up by foodies wherever they appear. Thanks to its personal Wedding Cheesecake service, Brinkworth is also a hit with brides and grooms.
The Dairy’s constant championing of its home county - the cheeses are named after local places- is helping to put Wiltshire well and truly on the gourmet map. And its recent revival of an 18th century popular cheese, Wiltshire Loaf mentioned in two of Jane Austen’s novels, is signposting even more people to the area.
The cheeses alone are enough to have one reaching for the crackers. Along with the revived Wiltshire Loaf - winner of the British Cheese Awards’ Best Territorial Cheese - are Brinkworth Blue, Garlic and Pepper and the Royal Bassett Blue.
This last variety added yet another prize to the dairy’s growing collection, which includes Best New Business 2006 and Wiltshire Life Independent Food Producer, by being named Best Cheese in this year’s Taste of the West competition.
Further 2014 successes have included being a finalist manufacturer in the Enterprising Wiltshire Awards and winning a Jongia Cheese making Scholarship.
Such ripening fortunes have been reflected in impressive growth. Profits have almost trebled, from £6k to £17k in the last three years, along with increasing turnover and staff recruitment, while processing has gone from two to five days a week.