What Dewlay Cheesemakers does

Dewlay Cheesemakers is a third-generation, family-owned cheesemaker founded in 1957 by George Kenyon in Garstang, Lancashire (United Kingdom) and currently run by brothers Nick Kenyon (Managing Director) and Richard Kenyon (Production Director). The company produces traditional Lancashire cheese using a two-day curd method in open vats that are turned and cut by hand, with curd from day one mixed with fresh curd on day two to produce a 20kg cheese with characteristic marbling. Dewlay is the only cheesemaker in Lancashire producing Beacon Fell Traditional Lancashire Cheese, which is protected under UK and EU legislation restricting milk sourcing to Lancashire.

Operationally, Dewlay runs a purpose-built eight-acre site on Garstang Bypass Road, Garstang, comprising manufacturing, an eight-line packing facility (grating, slicing, pre-pack, foodservice), a 2,000-pallet/tonne cold store, an on-site Cheese Shop, a museum and viewing gallery, and a 2MW wind turbine installed in 2010 that powers the factory and offsets 2,992 tonnes of CO2 annually. Own-make production exceeds 2,000 tonnes per year, and the business packs over 5,000 tonnes per year for major retailers and branded labels.

The business operates six revenue channels with distinct mechanics: (i) B2B wholesale and private-label packing to major UK retailers and branded labels on transactional volume contracts (the largest throughput channel); (ii) direct retail via the on-site Cheese Shop (Monday-Saturday opening hours) selling cheeses, accompaniments and gifts; (iii) e-commerce via dewlay.com with mainland UK courier delivery (APC/DPD, Tuesday-Friday dispatch, 30-day SLA); (iv) export supply described as "increasing"; (v) corporate and trade gifting including a "Pick Your Own" hamper service and bespoke enquiries; and (vi) group tours at £7 per person with a 15-person minimum. Pricing spans unit-priced hampers from £20 to £210 and celebration cheese cakes from £100 to £240. The company is AA+ BRCGS, Organic, Red Tractor, Kosher and SMETA certified, sources milk from nine Lancashire dairy farmers (one supplying for 50+ years), and has been recognised at the International Cheese Awards, Great Yorkshire Show, and Lancashire Tourism Awards.

Name

Dewlay Cheesemakers

Legal name

Dewlay Cheesemakers

Website

https://dewlay.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1957

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Dewlay Cheesemakers is a third-generation, family-owned Lancashire cheesemaker (founded 1957, Garstang, UK) producing traditional two-day curd Lancashire cheese in multiple formats for major retailers, branded labels, export markets, and direct consumers via an on-site Cheese Shop, e-commerce, gifting hampers and celebration cakes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Artisan Cheese Manufacturing

NAICS

Cheese Manufacturing (311513)

SIC

Dairy Products (2020)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Grated, Shredded & Sliced Cheese Manufacturing (Value-Added Cuts) (AFAHABAF), Cheese Wholesale (AFAIAEAC), Fresh/Natural Cheese Manufacturing (Unripened & Soft) (AFAHABAA)

Keywords

• Lancashire cheese production
• Artisan cheese manufacturing
• Private label cheese packing
• Cheese gift hampers
• Celebration cheese cakes

Headquarters

HQ city

Preston

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Direct Retail Sales (Cheese Shop): On-site Cheese Shop selling award-winning cheeses, hampers, gift boxes, celebration cakes, accompaniments (chutneys, crackers, spirits, wines), and kitchen essentials.
2. E-commerce / Online Shop: Online sales of hampers, gift boxes, celebration cakes and cheese direct to consumers across mainland UK with courier delivery.
3. Wholesale & Private Label Packing: Packing over 5000 tonnes of cheese per year for major retailers and branded labels. Also supplies an increasing export market.
4. Group Tours & Experiences: Pre-booked guided tours of the dairy and viewing gallery, primary school trips, and meeting room hire. Tours cost £7 per person.
5. Corporate & Bespoke Gifting: Bespoke hampers, corporate gifts and cheese-only orders available on enquiry, including 'Pick Your Own' hamper service.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Dewlay Cheesemakers manufactures traditional Lancashire cheese (Creamy, Crumbly and Tasty varieties, plus Garstang Blue) using a proprietary two-day curd method with hand-cut open vats. The company sells its cheese direct to consumers via an on-site Cheese Shop in Garstang and an online shop delivering across mainland UK, and supplies major retailers and branded labels through a wholesale/private-label packing operation handling over 5,000 tonnes per year, alongside celebrations cakes, gift hampers, group tours and trade gifting.

Product overview

Dewlay Cheesemakers is a third-generation family-run cheesemaking business producing traditional Lancashire cheese since 1957. The company offers a portfolio of handcrafted cheese products including core Lancashire cheese varieties (Creamy, Crumbly, and Tasty Lancashire), territorial cheeses (Garstang Blue, Red Leicester, Cheshire, Derby, Wensleydale), and specialty offerings. The product range spans: (1) Core cheese products available in traditional deli formats as well as grated, sliced, and pre-packed lines; (2) Celebration cheese cakes in three tiers (Kirkland, Garstonian, Lancastrian) for weddings and events; and (3) Hampers and gift boxes ranging from simple cheese boxes (£20) to luxury offerings like the Dewlay Deluxe hamper (£210). The company operates a state-of-the-art cutting, packing, and cold store facility with 8 packing lines serving major retailers, wholesalers, and export markets.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Creamy Lancashire Award-winning traditional Lancashire cheese with a buttery and creamy texture, made using Dewlay's proprietary two-day curd method. Available in deli, sliced, grated and pre-packed formats for retail and wholesale.
• Crumbly Lancashire Traditional Lancashire cheese with a crumbly texture, produced via Dewlay's two-day curd method. Award-winning product available across deli and packed formats.
• Tasty Lancashire Mature Lancashire cheese with a tangy, robust flavour, made using Dewlay's traditional two-day curd method. Multiple-time award winner and supplied in deli and packed formats.
• Garstang Blue A mellow and smooth blue cheese produced by Dewlay, sold alongside the Lancashire cheese range in deli and packed formats.
• Celebration Cheese Cakes Cheese wedding and celebration cakes available in three configurations (Kirkland 3-tier serving 40–70 guests at £100, Garstonian 4-tier serving 100–130 guests at £145, Lancastrian 5-tier serving 170–200 guests at £240), using Dewlay and partner cheeses. A 2-week lead time applies.
• Kirkland Celebration Cake 3-tier cheese celebration cake serving 40–70 guests, priced at £100, made with Lancashire Creamy or Lancashire Crumbly cheese.
• Garstonian Celebration Cake 4-tier cheese wedding cake serving 100–130 guests, priced at £145.
• Lancastrian Celebration Cake 5-tier cheese wedding cake serving 170–200 guests, priced at £240, featuring tier options including Eden Valley Brie, Garstang Blue, Wensleydale & Cranberry, and Creamy Lancashire.
• Hampers and Gift Boxes Curated range of cheese-led food hampers and gift boxes for occasions such as Christmas, weddings and corporate gifting, sold via the on-site Cheese Shop and dewlay.com online shop with prices from £20 to £210.
• Dewlay Deluxe Hamper Luxury hamper in a traditional wicker basket priced at £210, containing Wensleydale & Cranberry, Crumbly Lancashire, Tasty Lancashire, Creamy Lancashire, Extra Mature Cheddar, Selection Pack, Garstang Blue, Lemoncello Curd, accompaniments, Wild Fox Ivy's Signature Gin and Henners Sparkling English Wine.
• Bespoke Corporate and Trade Gifting Bespoke hampers, corporate gifts and cheese-only orders available on direct enquiry, including a 'Pick Your Own' hamper service in-store at the Cheese Shop.
• Group Tours and Tasting Experiences Pre-booked guided tours of the Dewlay dairy and viewing gallery for social groups, primary schools, coach parties and corporate groups (minimum 15 people, £7 per person, up to 2 hours), plus meeting room hire.
• Wholesale and Private-Label Cheese Packing Contract packing of Lancashire and other cheeses in multiple formats (grated, sliced, pre-pack, foodservice) for major UK retailers, branded labels and export customers, processing over 5,000 tonnes of cheese per year across eight packing lines.

Quantifiable outcome

• Producing over 2000 tonnes of cheese per year
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 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

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Training 2000 / University of Central LancashireminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDewlay partners with Training 2000 and the University of Central Lancashire to offer fully funded four-year apprenticeship courses in mechatronics maintenance technician roles, with one year off-site training and three years on-site.
• Cornthwaite Family / Kirkwood Lodge FarmcoreOthersThe Cornthwaite family at Kirkwood Lodge Farm have supplied Dewlay with milk for over 50 years, providing high-quality milk for award-winning cheeses. One of 9 local dairy farmers supplying the dairy.
• Specialist Cheesemakers AssociationminorOthersDewlay is a member of the Specialist Cheesemakers Association, whose patron is Prince Charles (now King).
• APC and DPD CouriersminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDewlay uses APC and DPD couriers to deliver items to addresses throughout mainland UK and highlands for online orders, hampers and celebration cakes.
• Wild Fox DistilleryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWild Fox Distillery's Ivy's Signature Gin is included in the Dewlay Deluxe hamper. Wild Fox Distillery participates in Dewlay's Christmas Launch Day events with Meet the Master Distillers sessions.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Barber's Cheesemakers: Family-owned cheddar maker based in Somerset since 1833, supplying major UK retailers with private label and branded cheese. Comparable to Dewlay in being a long-established British family cheesemaker with significant B2B retailer packing exposure.
• Snowdonia Cheese Company: Welsh premium cheddar and territorial cheese maker focused on aged, branded retail SKUs and gift packs. Comparable to Dewlay's premium branded cheese and gifting business even though methods and region differ.
• Wyke Farms: Family-owned Somerset cheddar maker with multi-generational heritage, farm-to-finish traceability, on-site renewable energy, and 100% owned milk supply. Closely mirrors Dewlay's traditional-method, vertically integrated, family-led model in the British artisan cheese category.
• Cropwell Bishop: Nottinghamshire-based Stilton maker producing PDO Blue Stilton via traditional methods with strong branded retail presence. Comparable through protected designation, traditional craft production, and similar scale of branded retail to B2B supply.
• Wensleydale Creamery: North Yorkshire PDO Wensleydale producer with a heritage visitor centre, on-site shop, and value-added gift/hampers. Highly comparable to Dewlay on protected designation, visitor retail, e-commerce gifting, and traditional method manufacturing.
• Long Clawson Dairy: Stylistically a Stilton-focused cooperative in Leicestershire making PDO-protected traditional cheese. Directly comparable to Dewlay through PDO-style protected designation cheese, multi-generational methods, and a similar scale of branded plus private label supply.

Broad incumbents

• Arla Foods: UK's largest dairy cooperative, supplying mass-market cheese, butter, and dairy ingredients to major grocers. A broad incumbent competing with Dewlay in retail private label and branded cheese across all categories, but at materially larger scale and a different operating model.
• Bel Group UK (Babybel, The Laughing Cow): Major multinational cheese and snack manufacturer with UK operations in soft cheese and processed snacks. Adjacent competitor for private label and branded share in UK retail cheese fixtures.
• Saputo Dairy UK (Cathedral City): Owner of the Cathedral City cheddar brand (formerly Dairy Crest), one of the UK's best-selling cheese brands. Competes with Dewlay for grocery shelf space across all cheese categories and exerts price pressure on private label supply.
• Lactalis UK (President, Galbani): Global dairy giant operating in the UK with brands including Président and Galbani across soft, hard, blue, and speciality cheeses. A broad incumbent that competes across multiple cheese formats where Dewlay is active.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/dewlaycheese

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 Dewlay Cheesemakers