British Sheep’s milk industry celebrated as cheesemaker scoops top award

Parlick cheese made by Singletons & Co has been awarded the ‘Taste of Excellence’ trophy in the British Dairying Cream Awards.

Judges Feedback: ‘Smooth, great example of a Parlick, very creamy, sweet and smooth, very clean to taste’ and ‘Great. Absolutely spot on acidity wise, nice gentle warming cheese with a little slated flavour coming through.’

After one of the most difficult years in history for the sheep’s milk industry, the biggest manufacturer of sheep’s milk cheese in the UK, Singletons & Co. has continued to support its supplying farmer, Stott & Sons with continued growth in sales of its award-winning Parlick.

Simon Stott, co-owner of Stott & Sons and chair of industry body Sheep Milk UK said: “We lost 15 out of 22 customers during the pandemic and were faced with the possibility of having to stop milking our ewes for good. Singletons & Co. and Morrisons swung into action to support the British sheep’s milk industry, which was a lifeline, and to then be awarded this trophy is another light at the end of the tunnel.”

In 2020, Parlick was highly commended in the Quality Food Awards. It is handcrafted using the cheesemaker’s five generations of cheesemaking expertise. Available in Sainsburys, Booths and Morrisons and with several wholesalers and independents across the country, the cheese has won many awards over the years and is a firm favourite both in the UK and with export customers.

Jak Blanthorn, UK account manager at Singletons & Co. said: “It is fantastic to see the cheese getting such well-deserved recognition. We are very proud to be able to support our local community and lucky to have such a great partnership with Simon Stott of Laund Farm, located only 10 miles from our dairy. This award really is testament to the courage and hard work Simon and his family have put in through these testing times”

Parlick has a fresh and clean flavour, mirroring the lush Ribble Valley the sheep graze. The flavour has a little earthiness, but also hints of sweetness, with some creamy and fresh tones. The light aroma accompanying this cheese makes it perfect for a cheeseboard or used as an ingredient – for example to top a rich tomato pasta sauce.

The Cream Awards is an annual event celebrating all things dairy with categories covering livestock management, veterinary teams and marketing campaigns. The Taste of Excellence category is judged by Morrisons.

For more information on Singletons & Co. see: https://www.singletonscheese.com/