Wensleydale Creamery facts for kids
The Wensleydale Creamery is a famous cheese maker located in Hawes, a town in North Yorkshire, England. They create many kinds of cheese. However, they are most known for their Yorkshire Wensleydale cheese. This special cheese has a "Protected Geographical Indication" (PGI) status. This means it can only be called Yorkshire Wensleydale if it's made in this specific area. The creamery is now part of a Canadian dairy company called Saputo.
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The Story of Wensleydale Creamery
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The story of Wensleydale Creamery began in 1897. A man named Edward Chapman started a cheese-making business in Hawes. He used old, traditional ways to make cheese. He bought fresh milk from local farms nearby.
Later, in the 1930s, Kit Calvert took over the creamery. He then sold it to the Milk Marketing Board in 1966.
A Close Call and a Comeback
In May 1992, something sad happened. Dairy Crest, which owned the creamery then, closed the Hawes factory. This meant 59 people lost their jobs. The company even moved the making of Wensleydale cheese to a different area.
But the local community didn't give up! Just six months later, in November 1992, a group of people bought the creamery back. This was led by a local businessman named John Gibson. Eleven of the former workers came back to help. Thanks to them, cheese making returned to Wensleydale.
Protecting the Cheese Name
The company worked hard to protect the name Yorkshire Wensleydale. They wanted to make sure only cheese made in Yorkshire could use that name. In 2013, they succeeded! The cheese was given "Protected Geographical Indication" (PGI) status by the EU. This is like a special badge that protects its origin.
Modern Creamery and Awards
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In 2015, the business moved to its current, modern location in Hawes. About 230 people work there today. They still make the famous cheese by hand. In 2017, the company invested £5 million to improve its cheese-making facilities.
The Wensleydale Creamery has won many awards. They often win at The Great Yorkshire Show's Cheese and Dairy Show. In 2018, their Yorkshire Wensleydale cheese won the Reserve Supreme Cheese title. They also received many gold, silver, and bronze awards. In 2017, they won a total of 22 awards!
Helping the Environment
In 2019, the creamery found a clever way to help the environment. They make about 4,000 tonnes of cheese each year. This process creates some waste, mostly a liquid called whey. This waste is now used to create "green gas." A special plant uses a process called anaerobic digestion. This turns the whey into methane biogas. This gas can then be burned to create electricity. This helps to heat homes in Yorkshire. Any leftover liquid from this process is used to make the soil better for farming.
In July 2021, the Wensleydale Creamery was bought by Saputo for £23 million.
Delicious Cheeses and Products
The Wensleydale Creamery makes many different kinds of cheese. These include Cheddar and Red Leicester. Of course, they also make several types of Wensleydale cheese. This includes the traditional kind, a smoked version, and even one mixed with sweet cranberries. They also make Blue Wensleydale.
