From its indulgent, earthy tang to the creamy blue texture, new sales data suggests when it comes to cheese, British shoppers are on the hunt for blue cheese to tingle the taste buds
Figures released by Lancashire’s Butlers Farmhouse Cheeses reveal a surge in sales of its popular blue cheese, ‘Blacksticks Blue’. This year, the fourth-generation family business reported a whopping 44% increase in sales of the cheese compared to 2019.
The blue cheese trend follows a steep rise in shoppers exploring speciality cheeses this year. With dining at home through lockdowns and the rise in e-commerce spiking sales, the cheese market overall is up by just over 20% year on year.
And we can’t get enough of it, a study this month revealed one third of Brits believed they couldn’t live without cheese*.
As the UK prepares for Christmas, the Lancashire-based cheese maker anticipates a further hike in sales of its tangy blue cheese – known for converting even those who claim to ‘dislike’ it, with Butlers preparing for four times the sales of Blacksticks Blue in December than in any other month of the year.
Tapping into the trend and giving the public even more of what they want, Butlers has now launched a festive ‘Mature your Own Blacksticks Blue’.
The first of its kind, the cheese gift pack consists of one whole baby 500g Blacksticks Blue cheese to nurture just the way you like it, all the way from mellow to nuclear tang. Each cheese comes with a ‘birth certificate’ for keeping track of maturation and a simple instruction guide allowing cheese lovers to pick their desired taste.
Matthew Hall, fourth generation owner, Butlers Farmhouse Cheeses said, “Over a quarter (27%) of our annual Blacksticks Blue sales are at Christmas. This year we are also seeing growth in our direct to consumer products, thanks to our letterbox online cheese shop and Butlers Larder home delivery, with people looking for alternative ways to enjoy different cheeses and local, quality produce, as well as gifting for friends and family.
“The mature your own gift pack is a great gift for the blue cheese lover and for budding cheese makers who want to create some magic at home this Christmas.”
Butlers Farmhouse Cheeses has a range of premium hard, blue and soft farmhouse cheeses found in all major UK supermarkets – for Blacksticks Blue, you can even try Blacksticks Blue Cheese Brulee to jazz up dessert.
Mature your Own Blacksticks Blue is available for order online for £20.00 plus delivery.
