RICHARD`S THE BIG CHEESE

By Clare Wall - Friday, March 23, 2007

Richard Hodgson with his award-wnning IW Blue Cheese. Picture by JENNIFER BURTON.

A FLEDGLING Island business is now a big cheese in the fromage fraternity, after its blue cheese was named the best in England.
Its director has dedicated the win to his dad, who died just a week before the competition.
The IW Cheese Company’s blue cheese, made at its Queenbower Dairy base, was this week awarded the Fortnum and Mason Best English Cheese at the World Cheese Awards in London, just 16 weeks after the company’s first batch was produced.
Richard Hodgson, 27, who runs the company with his mother, Julie, dedicated the win to his father, Mike, who died aged 65 a week before the company’s victory.
He said: “If it wasn’t for him the cheese wouldn’t have even reached the competition. He encouraged me to enter and made sure it was posted to the judges. I am sure if he was still alive he would be really proud.”
Mr Hodgson, 27, has been selling his blue cheese at the IW Farmers’ Market and at farm shops and delicatessens across the Island since November. He makes around 1,000 cheeses a week from the milk produced at Queenbower and is now looking to produce cheddars and cheshires.

RICHARD`S THE BIG CHEESE

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