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Yorkshire’s big cheese

A multi award-winning North Yorkshire dairy has been getting its ewe’s milk cheeses ‘sheep-shape’.

The owners of Shepherds Purse have redesigned the packaging of its alternative cheese range that includes Yorkshire Fettle, Olde York and Katy’s White Lavender. They aim to take the brand in a bolder and braver direction, without losing sight of the artisan nature of its produce.

The sheep cheeses are now hand-dipped in a pure white wax at the Thirsk-based dairy before being labelled up and delivered to delis and supermarkets around the country. Its paper product labels have also undergone a colour transformation, inspired by the Farrow and Ball paint pallet.

Co-owner, Caroline Bell, said of the new-look ewe’s milk cheeses: “Sheep’s milk cheese has always been at the core of our brand.

“This is where we started almost 25 years ago – as a quality alternative cheese producer – and although we are now perhaps best known for our excellent blues, ewe’s milk cheeses remain an important part of the dairy.”

“We went with white wax for our fresh ewe’s milk range to reflect the freshness of the product.”

Shepherds Purse’s blue range of cheeses, such as Harrogate Blue and Yorkshire Blue, also underwent a complete transformation earlier this year. They are now wrapped in silver foil with bold coloured paper labels.

In addition, the dairy, which started in the 1980s after experiments with dairy products on a kitchen table, has collaborated with Blur bassist, farmer, foodie and cheesemaker, Alex James, to create a new cheese.

Blue Monday will be launched later this month.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by David Gatehouse .