First Milk wins top awards across its range of cheese and dairy products

26 March 2025

The ongoing success of First Milk’s wide product range came to the fore at last week’s British & Irish Cheese Awards held at the Royal Bath & West showground in Somerset.

The British-owned regenerative dairy co-operative secured 12 awards, comprising six gold, four silver and two bronze medals for its consumer brand cheeses and foodservice dairy products.

Since its launch in 2022, First Milk’s consumer brand Golden Hooves has seen its expanding range of cheeses win awards at every turn. Now boasting five varieties – Vintage, Mature and Smoked Cheddars, Red Leicester and Double Gloucester – the cheeses have national retail and online listings and recently broke into the US market through 400 Sprouts supermarkets.

‘Deliciously regenerative’, Golden Hooves cheese has earned listings in Waitrose, Abel & Cole and Fortnum & Mason through the Big Food Redesign Challenge, recognising is at a food better for the climate, biodiversity and soil health, helping nature to thrive.

Specialist dairy product manufacturer BV Dairy, based in Dorset, was acquired by First Milk last year, bringing with it an impressive range of soft cheeses, yoghurts and its trademark clotted cream. As well as BV Dairy’s seven awards, its American-style full fat soft cheese took out the ‘Best Fresh in Class’ category.

First Milk’s Sales & Marketing Director Leona McDonald was delighted to see awards across so many categories: “To achieve awards across our entire range clearly indicates our commitment to manufacture dairy products to the utmost standard. Congratulations to everyone involved, including our farmer members who provide us with the highest quality milk from which to build.”