Stilton restart in Derbyshire

Production of Blue Stilton cheese stopped in Derbyshire with the closure of the former Dairy Crest creamery in tHartington in 2009. A new, smaller dairy was set up by two former employees in Hartington and the dairy was granted a licence to use the Stilton name in May 2014. The first production batches of Hartington Creamery’s Blue Stilton are now available – initially only from the Hartington Cheese Shop in Hartington and The Cheese Factor in Chesterfield.

Commenting on the news, Nigel White, Secretary of the Stilton Cheese Makers’ Association, says,”We are delighted to welcome Hartington Creamery as the sixth dairy licensed to use the name Blue Stilton. They have undergone a series of inspections to ensure that they conform with all of the requirements of the Protected Designation of Origin and the certification trade mark for Stilton Cheese. ”

Adrian Cartlidge, director of the Hartington Creamery, further comments: “We have achieved our primary goal of returning Stilton production to Derbyshire after a lapse of five years. We will be focused on fully meeting our customers’ requirements, and as we get more experience, looking to develop and grow the business.”