First Milk has announced that it was delighted to receive accolades across its product range at last week’s International Cheese and Dairy Awards, the world’s largest cheese show.
The British-owned regenerative dairy co-operative achieved 22 awards for its hard cheeses, comprising nine gold, eight silver and five bronze medals.
With only a single gold, silver and bronze medal awarded in each class, and up to 40 entries in the popular Cheddar categories, First Milk continues to show consistent excellence in its cheesemaking.
It also secured four major trophies, including the newly awarded Brian Eddy Award for Best Home International English Cheddar and retained the South Caernarfon Creameries Trophy for Best Welsh Cheese of any variety.
From vintage to mild Cheddars, Double Gloucester and Red Leicester, all its cheese types were recognised among the winners.
Three of the 22 awards went to its Golden Hooves branded cheeses, reflecting the emphasis on regenerative farming principles practised by First Milk member farmers. The brand’s newest product Golden Hooves salted butter, also earned a medal at the first time of asking.
Now an established part of the First Milk group, specialist dairy product manufacturer BV Dairy, won medals for its well-respected reduced fat Greek-style yoghurt and popular full fat soft cheese.
Commenting on these successes, First Milk Customer Quality Manager Jack Eade said, “It’s an outstanding achievement to have won so many accolades at the world’s largest cheese show, particularly doing it across such a wide range of recipes and cheese profiles. It’s testimony to our people and the quality of milk our members produce.”
Full list of awards:
Trophies
- JKM Trophy awarded to the Best Mature Creamery Block Cheddar in show
- Brian Eddy Award for the Best Home International English Cheddar
- CHR Hansen Double Gloucester Trophy awarded to the Champion Creamery Double Gloucester
- South Caernarfon Creameries Trophy awarded to the Best Welsh cheese of any variety in show
Gold
- English Cheddar (Vintage)
- Welsh Cheese of any variety (Vintage Cheddar)
- Double Gloucester, UK producers only
- Aged Double Gloucester (Golden Hooves)
- Extra Mature Cheddar (vegetarian)
- Mature White Cheddar
- Mature Coloured Cheddar
- Medium Coloured Cheddar
- Mild White Cheddar
Silver
- English Creamery Cheddar (Vintage)
- Welsh Cheese of any variety (Vintage Cheddar)
- Double Gloucester, UK producers only
- Aged Double Gloucester (Golden Hooves)
- Vintage White Cheddar
- Extra Mature Cheddar
- Mild White Cheddar
- Aged Red Leicester (Golden Hooves)
- 4% Reduced Fat Stirred Greek-style Yoghurt (BV Dairy)
Bronze
- Welsh Cheese of any variety (Extra Mature)
- Extra Mature Cheddar
- Medium White Cheddar
- Mild Coloured Cheddar
- Red Leicester
- 20% Full Fat Soft Cheese (BV Dairy)
Image shows Ian McDonagh, Dawn Mason and Matthew Hooper (from L to R) from First Milk at the 2025 International Cheese & Dairy Awards