Over 200 judges convened on 24 June to take part in sampling thousands of cheeses for the International Cheese & Dairy Awards at the Staffordshire Country Showground. They met to select the Supreme Champion and winners in categories ranging from English cheddars to cheeses with health benefits, and everything in between. Cheeses from as far away as New Zealand were on display, awaiting the judges’ assessments, as well as yogurts and other dairy products.

In fact, the Supreme Champion winner came from New Zealand, and was Lactalis Mainland New Zealand’s Kapiti Kikorangi Blue. The reserve champion the UK’s Bourne’s Cheshire Cheese mature Cheshire. The non-cheese dairy Supreme Champion was The Wright Family Dairy’s pasteurised Jersey whole milk. Walo von Muhlenen was the Supreme Specialist/Artisan cheese maker for 2026, while northern British supermarket chain Booth’s was the champion winner in cheese retailing.