An unusual heist. A renowned artisan cheesemaker in London, Neal’s Yard Dairy, was duped and stolen 22 tonnes of cheddar after delivering more than 950 wheels to a crook who posed as a wholesaler for a major French distributor, reports the BBC.
“On Monday 21 October we received a report regarding the theft of a large quantity of cheese from a manufacturer based in Southwark. Investigations are underway to determine the circumstances of the incident,” said police, adding that no arrests have been made at this time.
The scammer managed to have almost 1,000 wheels of cheese worth more than £300,000 delivered before the Southwark-based company realized it was in fact a fake company. Despite the significant financial losses, the company said it honored its commitment and paid Hafod, Westcombe and Pitchfork, the small producers of the stolen cheeses, so that they would not have to suffer the consequences of the theft.
Tom Calver, director of Westcombe Dairy, praised Neal’s Yard Dairy for “ensuring we got paid for cheese, even in the darkest of times”.
Excellent cheeses that make them “a particular target”
The 950 cheeses stolen were organic Hafod Welsh cheddar, Westcombe cheddar and Pitchfork cheddar, which have won numerous awards and are among “the most sought-after artisan cheeses in the UK”, according to Neal’s Yard Dairy. The three cheeses are sold between 7.15 and 12.90 pounds sterling (between 8.50 euros and 15.50 euros) for a small piece of 250 to 300 g. A high price which makes it “a particular target”, according to the company.
“It may seem naive to fall for a scam, but the truth is that the world of artisan cheese is a place where trust is deeply ingrained in all transactions,” says Patrick Holden, owner of the farm that produces the cheddar. Hafod. “This fraudulent client’s breach of trust is a violation of the atmosphere of good faith and respect… This is a world where words are commitments,” he added.
Neal’s Yard Dairy has been selling British and Irish farmhouse and artisan cheeses since the 1980s, has four stores in London and also sells online. “We encourage customers to continue to support us in the months to come by choosing our cheeses, knowing that every purchase helps maintain our commitment to the small producers we support,” the company said.
