Cheddar cheese producer Wyke Farms has won a prestigious award for its green approach to business.
The family-owned business, based at Bruton, near Shepton Mallet, landed the Sustainable Future Award, sponsored by Unilever, at the recent IGD Awards.
Wyke Farms was praised for its integrated green approach encompassing renewable energy, water recovery, green farming and transport.
This forms part of the company’s ‘100% green’ sustainability plan through which it has dramatically reduced its carbon footprint and become the first national cheddar brand to be 100% self-sufficient using its own energy generated from solar and biogas.
It also encourages wildlife within its local area, minimises packaging waste, maximises use of organic nitrogen on its farm and supplier farms to replace artificial fertiliser and fliters and re-uses water.
Wyke Farms managing director Richard Clothier – a third generation cheesemaker – said: “We are delighted to receive the Sustainable Future Award from IGD. It is wonderful to be a recognised at such a prestigious award ceremony.”
Unilever communications director Charlotte Carroll added: “Wyke Farms demonstrated ambition at scale, making a significant investment and commitment to embed sustainability into its business.
“It is fast becoming a beacon for others in its community, its industry and the international marketplace it operates in, keen to share its knowledge and encourage its suppliers to work in more sustainable ways.
“Motivated by its values and its principles, Wyke Farms demonstrates how to shift an entire supply chain towards a more sustainable business model.”
The winners of the awards, which are staged by research and training charity IGD, were selected by some of the food and drink industry’s top people, including representatives from IGD and companies from across the food and grocery supply chain.
Other winners included Thatcher’s Cider (Business Transformation Award), United Biscuits ( Consumer Insight Excellence Award), PepsiCo UK (Digital Engagement Award) and Coca-Cola Enterprises (E-commerce Award).
Say cheese! Pictured, from left: Richard Clothier of Wyke Farms with Chris Milton, Thatchers Cider
