Somerset, UK – 03^rd October 2011 – Wyke Farms, the UK’s largest independent cheese producer and milk processor, is celebrating its 150^th year in style, and by no means resting on its laurels. Bound by its passion for producing fine Farmhouse Cheddar and its pride in maintaining the traditional farming heritage, 150 plus national cheese shows awards in one year means Wyke Farms is no “cottage industry”- It is the No. 1 Farmhouse Cheddar in the UK.

“To say we are proud is an understatement,” said Richard Clothier, third-generation family member and managing director. “150 years is something special. Today, as a family business we still base all our recipes on our Grandmother Ivy’s original. We see this year as a chance to remember where we started, and with 150 awards (and counting) for our cheddar marks our achievement today. Here’s to the next 150!”

2011 is a record-breaking year for Wyke Farms and further recognition that it is the Best-Selling Farmhouse Cheddar Brand in the UK, as reported by the Kantar World Panel in 2010.[1] This year’s awards include 11 Winner accolades, two Star awards, 26 First places, 20 Gold awards, 21 Second places, 22 Silver awards, 18 Third places, two Forth places, two “Highly Commended” awards, 24 Bronzes awards, and three Finalist awards, with more to come!

Wyke Farms are committed to continually improving its offering to the retail industry and consumers. Richard Clothier comments, “During October our management team will be conducting a key retail buyers tour where we will update the industry on our 2012 strategy but more importantly get feedback on how we can improve and add further value to the Cheddar category.”

Known for its unique provenance and the superior quality of its products, Wyke Farms has maintained the art of traditional cheese-making on its Somerset farm, where the Clothier family have been making traditional farmhouse cheddar to its original secret recipe since 1861.

Wyke Farms cheese and butter is made with the milk from their cows grazing the lush pastures of the Mendip Hills in the centre of the Cheddar making region in Somerset. Wyke Farms cheese and butter products are available nationwide and can be found in Asda, Co-op, Makro, Morrisons, Tesco and Waitrose.

November 18^th 2010: Wyke Farms, the UK’s largest independent cheese producer and milk processor, today announce that two additional SKU’s will be available in Waitrose from 24^th November 2010.

Waitrose will be adding the ‘Simply Gorgeous Vintage’ to their existing core products from Wyke Farms, these being ‘Rich & Creamy Mature’ and ‘Just Delicious Extra Mature’.  In addition, the newly updated Super Light will also be added to the range.

This means that Waitrose will be stocking the four products, all in the fresh new packaging design recently applied to the entire range of stay fresh zip packs.  The updated designs better reflect the unique provenance position of the brand.

Appealing to the discerning female shopper the new Super Light packaging communicates the associated health benefits in a bright, fresh design.  The heart shaped parchment panel in the centre of the pack subtly conveys the cardiovascular benefits and the back of pack copy tells the heart warming family story of how the cheese was originally developed to alleviate the high cholesterol of Wykes’ chairman, John Clothier. It took 2 years to refine the recipe and was a real labour of love made for the family by the family.  Super Light has an award winning recipe that is now matured for longer for a stronger flavour.

The 150 years of tradition at Wyke Farms are now matched by over 300 trophies, awards and prizes won by the company at national cheese shows.  From an original 3000 plus, Wyke Farms is now one of less that 10 farmhouse cheese makers remaining in the West Country and today its mild, mature, extra mature and vintage cheddars are sold throughout Europe in over 25,000 retailers.

Wyke Farms has been producing award-winning cheddar for over a century and has grown to become the largest family-owned cheese maker in Britain selling over 12,000 tonnes annually. The company have achieved substantial growth year on year by staying true to the traditional values behind the brand and have become the best selling farmhouse Cheddar in the UK.

Wyke Farms cheese and butter products are available nationwide and can be found in Asda, Co-op, Makro, Morrisons, Ocado, Sainsbury’s, Somerfield, Tesco and Waitrose.

Somerset, UK – July 21^st 2010 – Wyke Farms, the UK’s largest independent cheese producer and milk processor, was the recipient of numerous accolades at this years Royal Welsh Show.  The Somerset based company were awarded with ‘Gold’ awards in the Mild Cheddar and the Red Leicester categories, ‘Silver’ for their Village Oak Cheddar in the ‘Export Class’ and both the salted and unsalted Farmhouse Butter.  Bronze was also awarded to Wyke Farms Vintage Cheddar in the Taste and Consumer Appeal category, the Vegetarian and the Double Gloucester categories.

This latest run of awards serves as further recognition for Wyke Farms the Best-Selling Farmhouse Cheddar Brand in the UK, as recently reported by the Kantar World Panel.[1] Known for their unique provenance and the superior quality of their products, Wyke Farms has maintained the art of traditional cheese-making on their Somerset farm, where the Clothier family have been making traditional farmhouse cheddar to their original secret recipe since 1902.

The 100 years of tradition at Wyke Farms have long since been matched by over 100 trophies, awards and prizes won by the company at national cheese shows. From an original 3,000 plus, Wyke Farms is now one of less than 20 farmhouse cheese makers remaining in the West Country and the only independent dairy company within the top 10 cheddar brands in the UK. With a family history dating back for more than a century, the company’s mild, mature, extra mature and vintage cheddars are sold throughout Europe in over 25,000 retailers.

Wyke Farms cheese and butter products are available nationwide and can be found in Asda, Co-op, Makro, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Somerfield, Tesco and Waitrose.

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(2)World Panel KPI Reporting 52 w/e 27 December 2009

(3)w/e 02^nd November 2008 (TNS World Panel KPI Reporting)

Somerset, UK – June 21^, 2010 – Wyke Farms, the UK’s largest independent cheese producer and milk processor, today announce that their new premium Farmhouse cheddar ‘Ivy’s Vintage Reserve’ is now available nationwide at Sainsbury’s stores.

The most recent addition to their award-winning line of cheddar products, Ivy’s Vintage Reserve cheddar goes through a careful maturation period, for no fewer than 15 months, under the watchful eye of the head cheese-grader at Wyke Farms, where the traditional art of cheddar making is maintained.

“We’re thrilled to be able to share this premium cheddar, which is so dear to our family, with Sainsbury’s shoppers,” said Richard Clothier, third generation family member and Managing Director. “Sainsbury’s rich heritage – as celebrated by their 140^th birthday – makes them a great match for this special-occasion cheddar, which honors my grandmother and Wyke Farms founder Ivy Clothier.”

Other Wyke Farms cheddar products available at Sainsbury’s include Just Delicious Extra Mature and Simply Gorgeous Vintage Cheddar. Wyke Farms cheese and butter products are available nationwide and can be found in Asda, Co-op, Makro, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Somerfield, Tesco and Waitrose.

For over one hundred years the special Christmas line of premium vintage cheddar has been reserved for family and close friends during the holiday season. This year however, the special Christmas cheese; a specially selected line of the Wyke Farms Ivy’s Vintage Reserve, is also available to the public for the month of December.

Ivy’s family founded Wyke Farms in the 1900s and now, three generations later, the Clothier family continues to use her celebrated 100-year-old recipe for turning their fresh milk into award-winning cheese with perfect texture and exquisite taste. Fresh milk is collected daily from Wyke’s local farms, where the cows are grazing the lush pastures in the heart of Somerset, the milk is then made into cheddar at the dairy near Bruton.

The Ivy’s Vintage Reserve Cheddar then goes through a careful maturation period, for no fewer than 15 months, under the watchful eye of the head cheese maker.  The traditional art of cheese making is maintained at Wyke Farms as the skilled cheese maker carefully brings all of the ingredients from the lush pastures of the Mendip Hills into full development of taste and texture.

“The Christmas line of Cheddar is our premium vintage at its best” Commented Richard Clothier, third generation family member and Managing Director. He continues “It’s been a tradition to save this for family and friends for over 100 years but this year we want to share it out with those who have the same passion for cheddar as we do”

The 100 years of tradition at Wyke Farms are now matched by over 100 trophies, awards and prizes won by the company at national cheese shows.  From an original 3000 plus, Wyke Farms is now one of less that 20 farmhouse cheese makers remaining in the West Country and today its mild, mature, extra mature and vintage cheddars are sold throughout Europe in over 25,000 retailers.

Wyke Farms has been producing award-winning cheddar for over a century and has grown to become the largest family-owned cheese maker in Britain selling over 12,000 tonnes annually. The company have achieved substantial growth year on year by staying true to the traditional values behind the brand and have become the fastest growing cheddar brand at a rate of 82% year on year.

Wyke Farms cheese and butter products are available nationwide and can be found in Asda, Co-op, Makro, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Somerfield, Tesco and Waitrose.  The limited edition Christmas cheddar is available from Asda stores and priced at £5.00 for a 600g block.

Somerset, UK — October 17^th, 2009 — Wyke Farms, the UK’s largest independent cheese producer and milk processor, today announce that their new premium Farmhouse Cheddar ‘Ivy’s Vintage Reserve’ will be available in Waitrose from October 19^th 2009.

The new Ivy’s Vintage Reserve Cheddar is a premium product in keeping with the discerning taste of the Waitrose customer.  The cheddar goes through a careful maturation period, for no fewer than 15 months, under the watchful eye of the head cheese-grader at Wyke Farms where the traditional art of Cheddar making is maintained. All of the ingredients from the lush pastures of the Mendip Hills are skillfully brought into full development resulting in an exquisite taste and texture.

In addition from the 19^th October, selected Waitrose stores will be stocking three of the Wyke Farms core products, Rich & Creamy Mature, Just Delicious Extra Mature & Simply Gorgeous Vintage.

“Expanding our range into Waitrose with Ivy’s Vintage Reserve is a proud moment for our family,” commented Richard Clothier, third generation family member and Managing Director, making reference to his grandmother Ivy Clothier who founded Wyke Farms over 100 years ago.

The 100 years of tradition at Wyke Farms are now matched by over 100 trophies, awards and prizes won by the company at national cheese shows.  From an original 3000 plus, Wyke Farms is now one of less that 20 farmhouse cheese makers remaining in the West Country and today its mild, mature, extra mature and vintage cheddars are sold throughout Europe in over 25,000 retailers.

Wyke Farms has been producing award-winning cheddar for over a century and has grown to become the largest family-owned cheese maker in Britain selling over 12,000 tonnes annually. The company have achieved substantial growth year on year by staying true to the traditional values behind the brand and have become the fastest growing cheddar brand at a rate of 82% year on year.

Wyke Farms cheese and butter products are available nationwide and can be found in Asda, Co-op, Makro, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Somerfield, Tesco and Waitrose.

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www.wykefarms.com

For further information or images please contact:

Jodie Welton +44(0)7887 780464

jodie@connectedpr.eu