Belton Farm

What Belton Farm does

Belton Farm is an independent, fourth-generation family-owned British cheesemaker headquartered in Whitchurch, Shropshire, producing handcrafted cheese since 1922. The company manufactures classic territorial cheeses (White Cheshire, Coloured Cheshire, Lancashire, Wensleydale, Caerphilly, Cheddar, Double Gloucester), vat-made flavoured varieties (Sage Derby, Port Wine Derby, Double Gloucester Onion & Chive), a contemporary Fox family range (Red Fox, Silver Fox, White Fox, Smoked Red Fox) distinguished by calcium lactate crystal texture, organic lines (Organic Mature Cheddar, Organic Mild Cheddar, Organic Red Leicester), and curated gift boxes/hampers. Production uses pasteurised cow's milk sourced from local free-range, grass-fed herds, with traditional Cheshire methods and proprietary processes including extended maturation (16–18+ months) and natural oak-chip smoking.

The business operates a multi-channel go-to-market: major UK supermarket distribution through Waitrose, Tesco, Morrisons, Ocado, and Booths; independent delicatessens, farm shops, and foodservice/wholesale channels; direct-to-consumer e-commerce via beltonfarm.co.uk with DHL next-day delivery and curated boxes priced £23–£46; and nascent export into the US, South Africa, and Sweden. Revenue is generated through per-unit wholesale supply and DTC retail sales. The company has won five Supreme Champion titles at the International Cheese & Dairy Awards in 60 years (most recently 2025) alongside consistent gold/silver/bronze medals across British Cheese Awards, World Cheese Awards, Global Cheese Awards, and Great Yorkshire Show.

The firm is registered as Belton Farm Limited (England & Wales), led by Managing Director Justin Beckett with General Manager Ian Luxton and Farm Liaison Manager Imogen Curtis; it operates from a single manufacturing site with 51–100 employees. Recent capital deployment includes a 1.5MW on-site solar array installed with Conrad Energy in April 2025, estimated to reduce carbon footprint by 350 tonnes CO2 annually. The company is private, family-controlled, and has no disclosed external institutional investment, M&A activity, or patent portfolio.

Name

Belton Farm

Legal name

Belton Farm Limited

Website

https://beltonfarm.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1922

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Belton Farm is a fourth-generation, family-owned British cheesemaker in Shropshire producing award-winning handcrafted classic, contemporary, and organic cheese. It serves UK supermarkets (Waitrose, Tesco, Morrisons, Ocado, Booths), delis, farm shops, DTC e-commerce, and export markets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Artisanal British Cheeses

NAICS

Specialty Food Retailers (4452)

SIC

Dairy Products (2020), Food And Kindred Products (2000)

akta.pro primary industry

Ripened Natural Cheese Manufacturing (Semi-Soft, Hard & Blue) (AFAHABAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Cheese (Natural & Processed) (CRADACAC)

Keywords

• Farmhouse cheese production
• Traditional cheesemaking methods
• Organic dairy products
• Specialty cheese varieties
• Cheese gift hampers

Headquarters

HQ city

Shrewsbury

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Direct E-commerce Sales: Online sales through beltonfarm.co.uk with per-order pricing, next-day delivery available for mainland UK customers. Payment via PayPal and Global Payments.
2. Retail Wholesale: Supply to major UK supermarket chains including Waitrose, Tesco, Morrisons, Ocado, and Booths. Distribution through wholesale channels and independent delicatessens.
3. Foodservice and Delicatessen: Supply to farm shops, independent delicatessens, and food service establishments.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels9 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Belton Farm manufactures and sells handcrafted British cheeses spanning classic territorial varieties (Cheshire, Lancashire, Wensleydale, Caerphilly, Cheddar, Double Gloucester, Red Leicester), vat-made flavoured cheeses (Sage Derby, Port Wine Derby, Double Gloucester Onion & Chive), contemporary Fox family cheeses (Red Fox, Silver Fox, White Fox, Smoked Red Fox, Saxonshire), and an organic range (Organic Mature Cheddar, Organic Mild Cheddar, Organic Red Leicester). The company also offers curated cheese gift boxes and hampers, supplying major UK supermarkets, independent delicatessens, farm shops, wholesalers, and international export markets, as well as direct-to-consumer sales through its own e-commerce website.

Product overview

Belton Farm is an independent family-run British cheese maker located in Shropshire, producing award-winning handcrafted cheeses since 1922. The product portfolio spans three main categories: Classic territorial cheeses (White Cheshire, Coloured Cheshire, Lancashire, Wensleydale, Caerphilly, Cheddar, Double Gloucester), VAT Made flavoured cheeses (Double Gloucester Onion & Chive, Sage Derby, Port Wine Derby), and Contemporary/Organic offerings including the Fox Family range (Red Fox, Silver Fox, White Fox, Smoked Red Fox), Organic Cheddars, and Organic Red Leicester. Additionally, the company offers gift sets and hampers including Cheese Lovers Box, Ultimate Cheese Box, The Belton Box, Fox Box, Cheese Feast Hamper, and the Fox Cheese Trio. All products are made with milk from local farms and crafted using traditional methods.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Red Fox: Award-winning aged Red Leicester cheese matured for over 16 months, featuring a russet colour and signature crunch from calcium lactate crystals. Available in major UK retailers including Waitrose, Tesco, and Morrisons.
• Silver Fox
• Smoked Red Fox
• White Fox

Products and services

• White Cheshire A local speciality and foundational cheese for the Beckett family: a light, crumbly Cheshire cheese with subtle hints of fresh citrus and a slightly salty taste distinctive to the Cheshire Plain where cows feed on mineral-rich pastures.
• Coloured Cheshire Traditional Cheshire cheese with a light amber colour from the addition of annatto (a natural plant extract). Light and crumbly with subtle hints of fresh citrus; awarded Reserve Champion UK Cheese at the 2022 International Cheese & Dairy Awards and Supreme Champion in 2025.
• Lancashire Crumbly and mild Lancashire cheese with a refreshingly zesty flavour, bright-white fresh milky finish and sharp character. Awarded Gold at the 2025 Global Cheese Awards.
• Wensleydale Crumbly and delicate Wensleydale cheese with mellow notes of honey and fresh acidity suggestive of wild honey; recognised with the Wensleydale Cup at the Great Yorkshire Show in 2019 and 2023.
• Caerphilly Traditional bespoke recipe Caerphilly that is crumbly, delicate and moist with a milky flavour, originally developed for coalminers with a tougher texture.
• Cheddar Full bodied Cheddar with a distinctively sweet, nutty flavour; hard and natural with a slightly smooth and firm texture that tends to melt in the mouth.
• Double Gloucester Smooth Double Gloucester with a creamy, buttery flavour that is rich and nutty yet mellow, with a straw-like colour from the addition of natural plant extract annatto; particularly strong melting cheese.
• Red Leicester & Cracked Black Pepper Red Leicester cheese combined with the warming bite of cracked black pepper, with a russet colour flecked with cracked black pepper for a savoury, smooth flavour with added bite.
• Double Gloucester Onion & Chive Vat-made Double Gloucester cheese infused with onion and chives, where the flavourings are added directly to the cheese-make for even distribution throughout.
• Sage Derby Smooth, creamy Derby cheese marbled with a delicate sage infusion made via the vat infusion process; England's oldest and most famous cheese originally made only for special occasions. Awarded Gold at the 2025 International Cheese Awards.
• Port Wine Derby Smooth, creamy Derby cheese marbled with a delicate Port wine infusion, creating a deep ruby red marbled effect where Port is naturally blended with the maturing cheese. Gold winner at multiple International Cheese Awards competitions.
• Organic Mature Cheddar Organic cheddar combining high quality organic milk with Belton cheesemakers' skills, aged for a minimum of 10 months with nutty and sweet notes; Gold winner at the British Cheese Awards 2026 and Great Yorkshire Show 2024.
• Organic Mild Cheddar Organic mild cheddar aged for 6 months to bring out the sweet and mellow notes of this distinctive cheese, made with exceptional quality organic milk.
• Organic Red Leicester Organic Red Leicester with rich and savoury notes, slightly sweet with an almost caramel flavour that builds up during maturing; aged for a minimum of 10 months. Gold winner at the 2026 International Cheese & Dairy Awards.
• Red Fox Handcrafted aged Red Leicester with a unique recipe developed over many years; intense and complex blend of sweet, savoury and nutty flavours with an unexpected crunch from naturally occurring calcium lactate crystals, matured for over 16 months. Available in Waitrose, Tesco, Morrisons and other major UK retailers.
• Silver Fox Modern British Superior Vintage Cheddar handcrafted at Belton Farm in Shropshire, slowly matured for around 18 months with rich savoury flavour, sweet hints of caramel, and the satisfying crunch of calcium lactate crystals.
• White Fox Aged White Leicester cheese slowly matured to develop a crunch, giving a rugged mouth feel and depth of flavour in a modern British cheese.
• Smoked Red Fox Red Fox cheese matured for between 16-18 months and naturally smoked over oak chips, delivering a complex blend of sweet and savoury flavours with the signature russet-coloured crunch from calcium lactate crystals.
• Saxonshire A combination of five favourite regional cheeses layered to perfection: Cheddar, Derby, Double Gloucester, Red Leicester and Cheshire.
• Silver Fox Special Reserve Premium Silver Fox vintage cheddar matured for around 20 months with rugged mouth feel and depth of flavour; rich, distinctive flavour with sweet hints of caramel as salt crystals crunch. Gold winner at the 2025 World Cheese Awards.
• Fox Cheese Trio Three cheese selection pack containing Red Fox, Silver Fox and Smoked Red Fox in 100g portions, ideal for sharing, sampling, or seasonal gifting. Priced at £5.00 per trio.
• Cheese Lovers Box Curated selection including Cheshire, Silver Fox, Sage Derby, Double Gloucester, and Red Fox cheeses, designed as a gift or tasting selection. Priced at £31.50.
• Ultimate Cheese Box Premium selection featuring Silver Fox, Organic Red Leicester, Organic Mature Cheddar, Coloured Cheshire, Smoked Red Fox, Double Gloucester Onion and Chive, White Cheshire, and Vintage Silver Fox. Priced at £46.00.
• The Belton Box Selection including Vintage Red Fox, Double Gloucester Onion and Chive, Cheshire, and Organic Mature Cheddar, presented as a curated Belton Farm gift. Priced at £23.00.
• Fox Box Selection including Red Fox, Peters Yard Crackers, and Mrs Darlington BBQ Relish, presented as a Fox-family-themed gifting pack. Priced at £28.50.
• Cheese Feast Hamper Hamper featuring Silver Fox, Coloured Cheshire, and Mrs Darlington Beetroot Chutney, presented as a seasonal cheese feast. Priced at £34.00.

Quantifiable outcome

• 43 awards and 4 trophies at 2026 International Cheese & Dairy Awards
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Conrad EnergycoreOthers · 3 April 2025Conrad Energy installed a 1.5MW on-site solar array at Belton Farm. The array directly powers cheesemaking operations with renewable electricity, reducing carbon footprint by an estimated 350 tonnes of CO2 annually. This partnership supports both environmental goals and energy cost management.
• Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers (RABDF)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 January 2025RABDF organised the Entrepreneurs in Dairying programme in collaboration with several organisations. Belton Farm hosted a visit from this programme, providing tours and sharing insights into dairy business operations. The programme supports the next generation of dairy producers.
• The Andersons CentreminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 January 2025The Andersons Centre collaborated with RABDF, AHDB Dairy, and NFU on the Entrepreneurs in Dairying programme. Belton Farm participated by hosting visits and sharing dairy business management insights.
• AHDB DairyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 January 2025AHDB Dairy collaborated on the Entrepreneurs in Dairying programme designed to support next generation dairy producers. Belton Farm engaged with this initiative through hosting visits and sharing operational insights.
• NFU (National Farmers Union)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 January 2025NFU partnered on the Entrepreneurs in Dairying programme. Belton Farm hosted visits providing insights into dairy business management including financial planning, people development, and innovative business structures.
• Local Farming PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 April 2024Belton Farm works with local farming families who supply milk from free-range, grass-fed herds. The dedication of farming partners was specifically acknowledged in the Supreme Champion award announcement, reflecting the importance of this supply chain relationship to product quality.
• Coombe CastleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoombe Castle is a partner brand that won Gold at the 2026 British & Irish Cheese Awards alongside Belton Farm's Silver Fox. Both products were recognized in the same competitive field, suggesting a collaborative or co-branding relationship in the British specialty dairy market.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Wyke Farms: One of the UK's largest independent family-owned cheesemakers based in Somerset, supplying mature and vintage cheddar to all major UK supermarkets including Tesco and Waitrose. Direct peer in artisanal British territorial cheese production with similar supermarket distribution strategy and family-business heritage.
• Snowdonia Cheese Company: Welsh premium cheese producer (Red Storm, Green Thunder, Black Bomber) with strong gift and premium retail positioning in UK supermarkets. Comparable to Belton's Fox family range in driving aged-cheese premiumization.
• Barber's Farmhouse Cheesemakers: Multi-generation family-owned cheddar maker in Somerset producing traditional farmhouse cheddar and Red Leicester. Comparable to Belton in heritage, traditional methods, supermarket listings (Waitrose, Tesco), and territorial cheese category.
• Long Clawson Dairy: Styton and specialty cheese cooperative in Leicestershire producing Stilton and Red Leicester. Direct peer in British regional cheese with similar supermarket presence and award-winning heritage products.
• Wensleydale Creamery: Yorkshire-based creamery producing traditional Wensleydale and blended cheese, both a supplier and competitor of Belton's Wensleydale. Direct peer in territorial British cheese with similar heritage positioning.
• Ilchester Cheese Company: UK specialty cheese manufacturer producing Wensleydale, Double Gloucester, and infused cheeses including Sage Derby. Direct peer in vat-made cheese category where Belton's Sage Derby and Port Wine Derby compete.
• Coombe Castle: Specialty British cheese producer (Double Gloucester, Wensleydale, Red Leicester) that won Gold alongside Belton at 2026 British & Irish Cheese Awards. Direct peer in UK regional cheese with similar supermarket distribution.

Broad incumbents

• Arla Foods UK: UK dairy cooperative producing branded cheeses (Castello, Lactima, Apetina) plus own-label supply. Broad incumbent with scale advantages that competes for supermarket listings and category management.
• Lactalis UK & Ireland: Subsidiary of French dairy giant Lactalis producing branded and private-label cheese (Galbani, Seriously, Somerset Brie). Broad incumbent with significant UK supermarket private-label supply presence.
• Saputo Dairy UK: Owner of Cathedral City cheddar (UK's #1 cheddar brand) and Davidstow cheddar. Broad incumbent in UK cheese with significant supermarket scale that competes for shelf space with Belton's regional offerings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/beltonfarm
• Xx.com/BeltonCheese

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Belton Farm