Scammers Stole More than 20 Tons of Cheddar Worth Nearly $400,000 From This Famed Shop in London

Neal's Yard Dairy, an artisan cheese purveyor in the UK, shared that it was the victim of a massive cheese theft that saw more than 22 tons of cheddar stolen out from under them. 

"We have some difficult news to share. Neal's Yard Dairy has been the victim of a theft resulting in the loss of over 22 tons of clothbound Cheddar," the shop shared on its Instagram page. As it further explained, the theft was carried out by a fraudulent buyer who posed as a "legitimate wholesale distributor for a major French retailer." 

The shop delivered more than 950 wheels of Hafod, Westcombe, and Pitchfork Cheddar before they discovered it was all a ruse. However, it added that "despite the significant financial blow, we have honored our commitment to our small-scale suppliers and paid all three artisan cheesemakers in full." 

According to the BBC, the shop usually sells the Hafod Welsh for £12.90 (about 16.72) for 300g, the Westcombe for £7.15 (about $9.27) for 250g, and the Pitchfork for £11 (about $14.26) for 250g.

"The artisan cheese world is a place where trust is deeply embedded in all transactions," Patrick Holden, who owns the farm where the Hafod cheddar is produced, shared in a statement. "It’s a world where one’s word is one’s bond. It might have caused the company a setback, but the degree of trust that exists within our small industry as a whole is due in no small part to the ethos of Neal’s Yard Dairy’s founders."

Tom Calver, from Westcombe Dairy, added, "The amount of work that’s gone into nurturing the cows, emphasizing best farming practice, and transforming the milk one batch at a time to produce the best possible cheese is beyond estimation." He added, "And for that to be stolen, it’s absolutely terrible."

Even Jamie Oliver is in on the case, posting on Instagram that the "amount stolen equals the entire annual production of Hafod cheese, potentially creating a significant gap in the artisanal cheese market." He added, "As the world’s most consumed cheese type, Cheddar’s theft affects Neal’s Yard Dairy’s exports to 20 countries … Cheese enthusiasts are advised to be wary of suspiciously large quantities of premium Cheddar on the black market. Remember, if the deal seems too gouda to be true, it probably is! Let’s find these cheese stealers." 

Neal's Yard Dairy noted in its post that it's working with law enforcement authorities to identify the perpetrators. "In the meantime, we would like to put out a call to everyone within our esteemed community of cheesemongers around the world. If anyone is offered or receives cheeses they believe may have been associated with this theft, particularly clothbound Cheddars in a 10kg or 24kg format with the tags detached, please contact info@nealsyarddairy.co.uk."