Sainsbury's Visit Slate Caverns

South Caernarfon Creameries was delighted to recently welcome four key members of staff from major retailer Sainsbury’s to its site. The visit by Susi Richards (Head of Product Development), Madeline Wilson (Product Technical Manager), Win Merrells (Cheese Development Specialist), and Amy Chandler (Cheese Technologist) was prompted by the recent launch of a new South Caernarfon Creameries produced Cheddar which is exclusive to Sainsbury’s.

South Caernarfon Creameries have partnerned with Llechwedd Slates Caverns to bring the new and exlcusive Welsh Slate Cavern Aged Cheddar to Sainsbury’s.

The cheese is transported from South Caernarfon’s Creamery near Pwlhelli to Llechwedd Slate Caverns which are located in the depths of Snowdonia to commence a very traditional maturing method, with the cheddar stored 500 feet underground in the steepest mining maturation caverns.

The cheese has initially launched as a 1.25kg block, hand-dipped in a blue slate coloured wax and finished with a hand crafted Dragon stamp and isavailable from Sainsbury’s Deli Counters. A 200g retail pack is scheduled to launch within the retailers’ Taste the Difference range in August.

The visit incorporated a trip to the mine to view the cheese at Llechwedd Caverns and a trip to one of South Caernarfon’s member farmers at Ynysgain Fawr farm as well as a visit to the Creamery itself.

“We were obviously very pleased that three of the Sainsbury’s team took time out of their schedule and travel all of the way to see us” said Alan Wyn-Jones, Managing Director at South Caernarfon Creameries. “The visit was extremely useful for both sides. As well as visiting Llechwedd Caverns to see the maturation process, it enabled us to show the entire process – from the member farmer supplying us with milk through to the finished end product. The visit prompted the opportunity to discuss new product development so we are very much looking forward to working on additional opportunities.”