Goosnargh creamery taken under the wing of Tesco and Jamie Oliver

A Goosnargh creamery has been taken under the wings of Tesco and Jamie Oliver after being badly hit by the coronavirus crisis.

Kirkham’s Lancashire was left with several tonnes of cheese and raw milk when the service industry took a dramatic downturn.

The cheesemaker feared they would have to throw the excess stock away, and face business hardship.

Now Tesco has stepped in to help the dairy by adding Kirkham’s to its delicious cheese range.

Kirkham’s is one of two independent cheesemakers to be given a helping hand by Tesco, with Keen’s cheddar in Somerset also being selected for the shelves.

Tesco Cheese Buying Manager Matt Merridew said: “These two delicious cheeses will be fine additions to our speciality range which has soared in popularity during the present lockdown as shoppers are treating themselves to luxury varieties.”

In recent weeks demand for speciality cheese at Tesco stores across the UK has rocketed by 35 per cent compared with the same time last year.

Kirkham’s Traditional Unpasteurised Lancashire is a succulent, very tangy, crumbly and creamy cheese made from cow’s milk that is excellent for toasting.

Keen’s Cheddar, made from unpasteurised cow’s milk has a nutty and fruity tang that is matured for up to 12 months and which is perfect for a Ploughman’s. It won the Supreme Award at the 2013 Global Cheese Awards.

Jamie Oliver said: “Rallying around our fantastic British producers at this incredibly challenging time is so important if we want to keep the industry afloat.

“I am thrilled that Tesco has decided to step in to ensure these beautiful British cheeses will remain available to the public.”

Both cheeses have just gone on sale at nearly 200 Tesco stores across the UK, priced at 2.75 each. They will each have a sticker on them stating “Save British Farmhouse Cheeses – supported by Jamie Oliver”.