Neal's Yard Dairy

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Neal's Yard Dairy storefront in Convent Garden neighbourhood
Neal's Yard Dairy storefront in Convent Garden neighbourhood

Neal's Yard Dairy is a London artisanal cheese retailer and (formerly) cheesemaker, described as "London's foremost cheese store." [1] The store is considered as a forerunner of the British wholefood movement and an important part of the revival of London's Covent Garden neighbourhood.

Founded in 1979 by Nick Saunders and Randolph Hodgson as a cheesemaker's shop, one of their first customers was Monty Python's John Cleese. Unfortunately, the new owners were still learning how to make cheese, and "had only managed yoghurt that day, so it all rather descended into a Monty Python sketch". [2]

Despite this rocky start, the store grew from a cheesemaker into a retailer of artisanal, mostly British and Irish cheeses (including farmhouse Cheddar cheese and varieties such as Stinking Bishop), spinning off the cheesemaking operation as Neal's Yard Creamery in Herefordshire. The company now sells about 500 tons of cheese a year through its store in Short Gardens (near Seven Dials), its shop in South London's Borough Market, and through its exports worldwide, especially the United States.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Dana Bowen, "By Cheese Possessed", New York Times April 27, 2005. [1]
  2. ^ "OFM Waitrose Awards 'Best Small Retailer'," Observer Food Monthly February 15, 2004 [2]

[edit] External links