2010 Key Sponsors

One of the UK's leading importers of European foods, Avilton Foods specialises in the supply of authentic continental cheeses, chilled desserts, frozen and ambient products to the UK's top retailers, as well as the wider food service industry.

To ensure superior levels of quality and customer service, the Exeter- based company works closely with its partners in the UK and the rest of Europe to deliver foods of the highest standards. As a family-run business, its commitment to quality is paramount.

Derbyshire-based Bradbury & Son have over 125 years' experience in the cheese business, distributing British Regional, Speciality and Continentals. The company is also the largest UK importer of Dutch cheese.

Bradbury's successful growth and development has been achieved through the winning combination of industry knowledge and experience, coupled with innovation to meet future customer eating trends and demands.

One of the leading brands within the Dairy Crest portfolio, Cathedral City, is made at the Davidstow Creamery in Cornwall using a traditional West Country recipe. It is then matured for many months to develop its distinctive flavour.

Cathedral City has a longstanding relationship with the Show, and sponsors the highly-prized Cheese Lovers Trophy. A key award at the Show for the past 20 years, the trophy winner is chosen by a panel including a celebrity judge.

Emmi is the largest Swiss milk producer and one of the most innovative dairies in Europe. In Switzerland, Emmi focuses on the development, production and marketing of a full range of dairy and fresh products as well as the production, ageing and trade of primarily Swiss cheeses. The primary focus in fresh products is on lifestyle, convenience and health products. In the cheese business, Emmi positions itself as the leading company worldwide for Swiss cheese. Emmi's customers are primarily the retail trade, the food service sector and the food industry. In 2009, Emmi achieved net sales of CHF 2.62 billion and employed around 3,500 people (full time equivalents) in Switzerland and abroad.

Established in 1920, the Medeghini manufacture Italian cheese with milk produced on its own farms. The company is acknowledged for its modern market approach and its integrated system of animal farming, production and distribution. They offer immense added value to the trade and see their service and flexibility as its main competitive values. Investment in state of the art technology, plants and logistical platforms allow them to build dynamic and solid business relationships with wholesale and retail partners internationally.

Somerset-based Wyke Farms is one of only 20 farmhouse cheese makers in the Cheddar region, and all of its cheese is still made to the same award winning recipe developed in the early 1900s.

The company's cheese is available nationwide in supermarkets, independent retailers and wholesale specialists - in over 25,000 stores. This makes Wyke Farms the largest family-owned cheese maker in the country, capable of producing over 20,000 tonnes annually.

Fayrefield Foods offers its customer partners real opportunities to build for the future, from unique commodity sourcing, to recipe building and production and original consumer driven marketing concepts. It provides consumers with top quality, enjoyable eating occasions and originality.

Whether for retail, Foodservice or manufacture, Fayrefield Foods Ltd will work with customer partners to develop products and brands with the hallmark of success. Brands include: Collier's' Powerful Welsh Cheddar, Royal Canadian Cheddar, Swedish Glace, and Lizi's GoodCarb Granola.

First Milk is one of the largest dairy farmer co-operatives in the UK. Its members' farms stretch from Central Scotland to the South of England, and from West Wales to East Anglia. Its milk division handles 1.8 billion litres of milk a year.

First Milk's Cheese Company is one of the largest UK-based cheese suppliers , producing in excess of 55,000 tonnes of cheese offering a one-stop shop for retailer and food service customers.

Tesco Stores Ltd is proud to sponsor of the International Cheese Awards. As the largest retailer of British cheese in the UK, Tesco appreciates the excellent work undertaken by event organisers and participants alike in raising the profile of the dairy industry. They would like to wish all entrants every success in the future.

The Co-operative Food is delighted to be a key sponsor of this year's International Cheese Awards.

Our ‘good with food' approach means that all our products are truly unrivalled in taste and quality. Our recipe for success lies in finding the most delicious, authentic ingredients; whether that is identifying the creamiest butter, tracking down new or traditional varieties, securing exclusivity, or simply selecting food for its exquisite flavour and exceptional quality. We believe in provenance and therefore work very closely with our all suppliers to ensure every cheese is made to the highest standard. We do all the hard work to make sure you can enjoy delicious food - effortlessly.

Waitrose is pleased to be a associate sponsor of this year's International Cheese Awards and to sponsor the award for Outstanding British and Irish Artisan Cheese. Our commitment to British Artisan cheesemakers is seen with the Waitrose specialist cheese range and we’re keen to showcase these makers and their outstanding products, to the public at the show.

Asda is delighted to be an associate sponsor of the International Cheese Awards at Nantwich. We are passionate about the quality of our cheese, which shows in the hundreds of awards we've won for our ranges, and this partnership will bring more people into Asda to try our fantastic products. We are key supporters of British farmers and strive to promote innovation in the sector. We look forward to continuing our award winning success in the 2010 show.