The Reiser Virtual Cheese Awards return
Credit: Virtual Cheese Awards
Back in 2020, the Reiser Virtual Cheese Awards was launched by cheese expert Sarah de Wit to celebrate and support Britain’s world-leading cheese industry. It has grown to become a staple in the British cheese award calendar and attracted widespread industry support from major retailers including Waitrose and Tesco as well the UK’s cheesemongers and affineurs.
The Virtual Cheese Awards, the UK’s only 100% online cheese competition dedicated to celebrating and supporting the best of British cheese, has announced a record-breaking number of entries for its sixth annual awards. This milestone year also welcomes Reiser UK as the event’s new headline sponsor.
Sarah de Wit, co-founder of Reiser Virtual Cheese Awards said, “We have had entries from more than 65 British dairies this year, which is amazing. There has never been a more crucial time to champion British cheesemakers.
“We’re delighted to continue our partnership with Reiser UK this year, a company that provides cutting-edge solutions to help automate and enhance cheese production. We invite everyone to join us for the Virtual Cheese Awards final on Wednesday, 11th June to celebrate the finest cheeses Britain has to offer.”
The awards aim to demystify cheese awards by bringing the judging process out from behind closed doors and into the light. This total transparency helps celebrate creativity and craftmanship and gives cheesemakers money-can’t-buy feedback on their cheese from some of the most influential cheese experts in the country, the organisers say.
Reiser is a supplier of processing and packaging machinery for the food industry, partnering with cheese producers of all sizes to deliver cheese processing and packaging equipment from its suppliers: Vemag, Variovac, Seydelmann, Holac, DJM, and Supervac.
The 2024 Supreme Champion award was won by Witheridge in Hay, from Nettlebed Creamery an organic alpine-style semi-hard British cheese that is aged in hay.
For the first time ever, the Supreme Champion cheese could earn a coveted spot on Waitrose’s cheese counters, bringing it to a national audience. Additionally, the eight finalists will have an exclusive opportunity to showcase their cheeses directly to partners at Waitrose at a special event hosted at the retailer’s headquarters.
The 2025 awards feature 38 individual cheese classes for cheddar, territorial, enhanced cheese, artisan cheeses from own herd, speciality and blue cheese categories.
The live Virtual Cheese Awards 2025 final will be held on Tuesday 10 and Wednesday 11 June hosted by broadcaster and local food and drink champion, Nigel Barden. It will be broadcast live on the Virtual Awards website, and on Facebook and YouTube live.
The 2025 awards will also include three Recognising Excellence awards where individuals can nominate someone in the cheese industry that they think have gone above and beyond in championing British cheese. These awards are FREE to enter.
• Young Cheesemaker of the Year
• Cheese Hero award
• New Cheesemaker of the Year
There is also a Sustainability Trophy, which recognises cheese businesses which are innovating in the field of sustainability and farming.