BOOMING Wellington-based firm Somerdale International has won the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade.

The award recognises its sustained growth and development in becoming a leading exporter of British cheeses and dairy products to more than 50 countries around the world.

Growth has accelerated over the past six years with the company’s overseas earnings increasing by 73%.

Somerdale is now in its 26th year in business and has a turnover of more than £32 million, of which exports represent 94%. It provides a route to the international market for more than 250 British cheeses made in some of the country’s leading creameries including traditional Cheddars, blue cheeses, flavoured cheeses and traditional hand-made, artisan cheeses. It is the leading exporter of British cheese to the USA with shipments leaving for New York every week. It has also grown its presence in key markets such as China and the Far East, the Caribbean, Australia and emerging markets such as the Middle East, north Africa and Brazil.

Company chairman Nairn Glen said: “We are extremely proud to have won the prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade. The award is testament to the experience and expertise we have accumulated in more than 25 years of exporting to all parts of the globe, the skill and dedication of our staff and the excellence of our partner suppliers who produce some of the very best British cheeses and dairy products.”

Director and co-founder Stephen Jones said: “We have a strong and growing base of international customers and now supply many of the leading speciality cheese retailers, as well as mainstream distributors, across the world.

“This growth reflects our ability to offer our international customers convenient access to some of the very best British cheeses made by cheesemakers who care passionately about producing cheeses of the highest quality, consistency and taste.”

Fellow director and co-founder Ernie Waldron said: “We have built a track record of providing an efficient, flexible and responsive service which we believe is cost effective, consistent and most importantly trusted.”