A cheese producer based in London recently revealed that over 22 tons of cheddar have been taken in what appears to be a scam.
Neal’s Yard Dairy stated that they delivered more than 950 wheels of cheddar to an individual pretending to be a wholesale distributor for a prominent French retailer, but later realized they had been deceived.
Despite the substantial financial loss, the company continued to pay Hafod, Westcombe, and Pitchfork, the makers of the stolen cheeses, to ensure they did not suffer any financial consequences.
The value of the stolen cheese is estimated to be a remarkable £300,000 ($388,830).
Having been operational since the 1980s, the cheese manufacturer is collaborating with the police to track down those responsible.
The Metropolitan Police released a statement: “On Monday, 21 October we received a report of the theft of a large quantity of cheese from a manufacturer based in Southwark.
“Enquiries are ongoing into the circumstances.”
No arrests related to the alleged theft had been made as of yesterday (October 25), according to police reports.
Neal’s Yard Dairy has reached out to cheesemongers globally, urging them to notify them if they encounter any signs of the stolen cheese, especially clothbound cheddars in 10kg or 24kg sizes with tags removed.
Patrick Holden, the owner of the farm that produces Hafod cheddar, described the experience as ‘a violation of the atmosphere of good faith and respect’.
He remarked, according to The Guardian: “It might sound naive to fall victim to a scam, but the truth is that the artisan cheese world is a place where trust is deeply embedded in all transactions. The breach of trust by this fraudulent customer is a violation of the atmosphere of good faith and respect.”
“It’s a world where one’s word is one’s bond,” he further mentioned.
Tom Calver, a director at Westcombe Dairy, also commented on the ‘terrible’ incident.
“The process of making that cheese started almost three years ago when we planted seeds for the animals’ feed in the ground,” he shared.
“The amount of work that’s gone into nurturing the cows, emphasizing best farming practice, and transforming the milk one batch at a time to produce the best possible cheese is beyond estimation. And for that to be stolen… it’s absolutely terrible.”
Calver praised Neal’s Yard Dairy for continuing to pay them ‘even in the darkest of times’.
Additionally, celebrity chef Jamie Oliver took to social media to discuss what he called ‘the grate cheese robbery’, advising people to be on the lookout for ‘posh cheese being sold for cheap’.