A NORTH Yorkshire creamery is set for growth after launching a cheese, in a multimillion pound move that will secure the future of the business, it was revealed last night.

The Wensleydale Creamery, in Hawes, is launching Jervaulx Blue, which is named in tribute to more than eight centuries of cheese making in the Yorkshire Dales, and is hailed as one of the most important new products unveiled by the business in recent years.

The new cheese represents a substantial investment into Wensleydale Creamery’s operation and reaffirms the commitment of the business to sustaining production and supporting farming and tourism in the Yorkshire Dales.

It is also expected to generate significant growth for the creamery, which only recently announced a £750,000 expansion of its visitor centre – one of the Dales’ best-visited attractions with more than 200,000 visitors a year – in a move that will create seven new jobs.

Jervaulx Blue – named in tribute to Jervaulx Abbey, the home of monks who originally crafted Wensleydale Cheese in about 1150 – is being unveiled at this weekend’s Dales Festival of Food and Drink, in Leyburn. Its packaging depicts the window of the abbey.

The cheese is targeted at lovers of continental varieties and is poles apart from the crumbly Wensleydale variety – now known as Real Yorkshire Wensleydale to reflect its local provenance ahead of a decision from the EU on protected destination of origin status – also made by Wensleydale Creamery.

David Hartley, managing director of The Wensleydale Creamery, said: “Jervaulx Blue has the texture and taste that will appeal to the modern British palate.

“We are becoming more continental in our tastes and this cheese mixes the best of the traditional British blue with the creamy and soft texture more associated with continental cheeses.

“We’ve chosen a name that reflects the long-standing history of our cheese and its manufacturing process. The abbey and the creamery are famous landmarks and attractions at either end of Wensleydale in Yorkshire.”

Ian Burdon, owner of Jervaulx Abbey, said: “The abbey and The Wensleydale Creamery are both custodians of the Yorkshire Dales’ traditions and are both proud of Yorkshire’s fine heritage.

“This along with the fact that Wensleydale cheese was first hand-crafted by monks at the abbey makes it particularly fitting that Jervaulx has been chosen as the name for blue Wensleydale.

“We are delighted to be associated with this excellent cheese.”