This year’s event, in Nantwich, UK, surpassed last year’s 4,615 entries with a total of 5,000 entries from around the world - 47% were from overseas.
'Nige-the-Nose'
Champion Overseas, Supreme Champion and winner of the Westminster Cup 2016 was Dutch company Treur Kaas for its aged Jerseyhoeve Schorren.
Reserve Supreme Champion and Reserve Champion Overseas was awarded to Elite Imports, Champion UK went to Arla Foods with a Double Gloucester from Taw Valley Creamery.
Supreme Retailer for 2016 went to Waitrose, picking up 25 Gold awards across all classes and winner of Speciality Cheese Retailer of the year.
Morrisons came in second with 21 golds, and triumphed as Cheddar Cheese Retailer of the year.
In the remaining individual retail awards, Asda was awarded Healthy Cheese Retailer of the year and the Co-Operative won Cheese Board Retailer of the year.
Nigel Pooley, aka Nige-the-Nose, retired Master Cheese Grader at Wyke Farms, was honored with the British Cheese Board industry award.
Stärnächäs
Stärnächäs, from Walo von Mühlenen and cheesemaker Marcel Gabriel, won the Supreme Champion Continental International Cheese Award.
The cheese, available from The Fine Cheese Co., also picked up the Interprofession du Gruyère Award for Best Swiss Cheese.
Ann-Marie Dyas, co-founder, The Fine Cheese Co., said Stärnächäs, a cheese produced at the foot of the Säntis mountain near Appenzell, has a flavor that sits somewhere between a Gruyère and an Appenzeller. The texture is slightly supple and smooth, with only the occasional crystal and a few small holes found within the paste.
“The Fine Cheese Co. has been spreading the word about this ‘stellar' cheese for the last three years. Affineur Walo so deserves this great win.”
Click here for all the results.