THE co-founder of Wellington-based Somerdale International, one of the UK’s leading cheese exporters, has been honoured with a lifetime achievement award in recognition of the significant contribution he has made in raising the international profile of British cheese.

Stephen Jones was presented with the award at the British Cheese Awards dinner at the Bath & West Show.

Mr Jones said: “I’m very honoured to have received this award, especially as it recognises the work that I, my business partner Ernie Waldron and all the team at Somerdale International have undertaken over the past 26 years in raising the profile and sales of British cheese across the globe. As such, I very much accept this award on their behalf.”

Mr Jones was born in Woolacombe, North Devon, and has spent his entire working life in the food and more specifically the dairy sector. In the late 1970s he worked as a buyer for Sainsbury’s, mainly for yoghurt, butter and margarine. In the early 1980s he joined Dairyvale, based in Reigate, which focused on trading in milk powders and dairy products to the Caribbean, Far East, Middle East and speciality cheese to the USA.

At Dairyvale Mr Jones met his now long-term business partner Mr Waldron and in 1990 they set up Somerdale International. Today, Somerdale is in its 26th year of operation and is one of the UK’s leading cheese and dairy products exporters with a turnover of more than £32 million.

It provides an effective 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.