A seriously British cheddar earns place on French supermarket shelves

 

By SEAN POULTER - More by this author » Last updated at 22:00pm on 23rd October 2007 Comments (6)

They have long boasted of making the world's finest cheeses. But now, it seems, the French are having second thoughts.

For a British cheddar has won a place on their supermarket shelves after scoring high marks in a taste test among Gallic experts.

 

The Seriously Strong brand, recently voted Britain's best cheese, is leading an invasion which hundreds of producers hope to join.

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Zut alors: Seriously Strong Cheddar scored highly in a taste test among Gallic experts

 

 

The cheddar, which is made in Stranraer, Scotland, will be sold in France's biggest supermarket chain, E. Leclerc, from next month.

 

Its producers are determined to open the eyes of the French and other European nations to the taste of cheddar and its many uses, from Welsh Rarebit to the ploughman's lunch.

 

In the taste test, Seriously Strong took on full-flavour French cheeses - and was chosen as the best by a quarter of testers.

 

The drive for continental sales is helped by the fact that the cheese's maker, McLelland, is now part of the French dairy company Lactalis, which sells its products worldwide under the President label.

 

Renée Milkop-Kerr, Seriously Strong's marketing chief, said: "The British should stop being embarrassed about what they eat.

 

"Softer, smellier cheeses might seem more sophisticated, but our extra mature cheddar can hold its own with any cheese in the world."

Say Cheese!