Thieves stole over £300,000 worth of artisanal cheese from Neal’s Yard Dairy in London by posing as wholesalers. The dairy compensated producers to cover losses, safeguarding their financial interests, as police investigate this large-scale heist.
In a meticulously planned heist, thieves posing as wholesalers managed to steal over £300,000 worth of artisanal cheese from the famed London-based cheese company, Neal’s Yard Dairy. Renowned for its high-quality, handcrafted cheeses, Neal’s Yard is a staple in the British artisanal food scene, specializing in traditional British and Irish cheeses. The company has confirmed the loss of over 22 tonnes of cheese, including award-winning varieties Hafod Welsh, Westcombe, and Pitchfork cheddars.
On realizing the fraud, Neal’s Yard Dairy disclosed that the firm impersonating a legitimate buyer turned out to be a front for fraudsters, who managed to abscond with 950 clothbound truckles of premium cheese. The dairy, however, reassured the community by announcing that it had compensated the individual cheese producers, thereby shielding them from the significant financial blow caused by the theft.
The haul included the prized Hafod Welsh cheddar, which sells for £12.90 per 300g, Westcombe cheddar priced at £7.17 for 250g, and Pitchfork cheddar, costing £11 for 250g. Patrick Holden, owner of the farm producing Hafod cheddar, expressed dismay over the betrayal of trust in an industry largely built on personal connections. “The artisan cheese world is a place where trust is deeply embedded in all transactions,” said Holden, adding that the heist represents a rare breach of this mutual respect.
Tom Calver of Westcombe Dairy, whose maturing cave houses a specialized cheese-turning robot known as “Tina the Turner,” remarked on the long process that goes into crafting each cheese batch. “The process of making that cheese started almost three years ago, with the planting of feed seeds for the animals. Every step of nurturing the cows and transforming milk is deliberate and labor-intensive,” said Calver. “To have that stolen is absolutely devastating.”
The Metropolitan Police has launched an investigation into the “large-scale cheese theft.” The dairy industry, already heavily impacted by inflation and supply chain challenges, is hopeful for a swift resolution to the case.
Neal’s Yard Dairy, headquartered in Southwark, has remained committed to supporting small dairies throughout England, Wales, and Ireland for over four decades. It’s an ethos of integrity and mutual respect that, according to the company, will endure even in light of this setback.
