London Artisanal Cheese Seller In A Pickle After Massive Cheddar Heist

In a heist with a taste for fine cheese, thieves have made off with a large haul of cheddar in London, the Associated Press reported.

Neal’s Yard Dairy has alerted international cheesemongers to watch for the stolen cheddar, particularly in 10-kilogram (22-pound) and 24-kilogram (52-pound) blocks. I Photo: Neal’s Yard Dairy X

Neal’s Yard Dairy revealed that a con artist posing as a wholesale distributor for a prominent French retailer stole 22 metric tons (48,488 pounds) of award-winning cheddar, valued at £300,000 ($390,000) before the company recognized the scam and reported the theft.

“The high monetary value of these cheeses likely made them a particular target,” Neal’s Yard Dairy, a distributor, wholesaler, and retailer of British artisanal cheese, said in a statement. Scotland Yard and international authorities are actively pursuing the suspects.

Nearly 1,000 wheels of cloth-wrapped cheese from three makers were stolen, including Hafod Welsh organic cheddar, Westcombe cheddar, and Pitchfork cheddar.

Tom Calver, director of Westcombe Dairy, expressed dismay, stating, “We’re devastated. For that to be stolen... it’s absolutely terrible.”

Neal’s Yard Dairy has alerted international cheesemongers to watch for the stolen cheddar, particularly in 10-kilogram (22-pound) and 24-kilogram (52-pound) blocks, and has compensated the cheesemakers in full, honoring its commitment to supporting small independent British cheese producers.