DEWLAY CHEESEMAKER'S MANAGING DIRECTOR, NICK KENYON
Dewlay Cheesemakers was founded by George Kenyon in 1957.
A keen dairyman, he decided to set up his own cheesemaking dairy in the heart of Garstang. Naming it, rather fancily, after the French 'du lait' which means 'of milk'.
However, this Lancastrian wrote it as he pronounced it and so Dew-lay was born! Since then, Dewlay has earned a reputation for producing the very best Lancashire cheese.
George's son Neil moved the business to its current site in Garstang in 1997 and Neil's sons Nick and Richard Kenyon, third-generation cheesemakers, now carry on their fine cheese-making tradition; producing multi-award-winning cheeses that are sold and enjoyed all over the world.
What does your role entail and how long have you been doing it?
Overseeing the day-to-day running of a third-generation cheese and butter-making business. I’ve been in the family business for 26 years.
What's the story behind your business and how many people are involved in it?
My grandad started the business making round truckles of Lancashire Cheese for local market traders in 1957. We came from humble beginnings of 2 or 3 staff (including my Dad) to a workforce of over 100 people today.
How did you learn your craft?
Blood, sweat and tears – not in the vat I hasten to add! My dad was old school and ensured we learnt our craft from the ground up. Rolling up our sleeves and getting stuck in!
What makes your product special?
It’s a team effort from the local family farms that produce our milk through to dedicated hard-working staff, a well-invested facility and a time-honoured recipe that we don’t meddle with. We’ve won plenty of awards over the years – most recently Supreme Champion at The Great Eccleston Show and The Chipping Show
Which product are you most proud of and/or which product do you enjoy most?
Traditional Creamy Lancashire really takes some beating – that lovely creamy mellow flavour and the open fluffy texture you get from a true Lancs. Eat it on its own with crackers and chutney with a Bowland Beer or melt it on toast for the ultimate cheese snack
What's been your biggest challenge over the years?
Nothing in business comes easily. We are fortunate to have a brilliant team of staff that work hard for the business. Like all of us they aren’t getting younger, so the challenge is in how we replace them when they retire.
What's been your most memorable moment in the business so far?
Back in 2017 we were honoured to host the then Prince of Wales, Prince Charles who was here to celebrate our 60th year in business. At the end of the visit a small hamper of our best-selling cheeses was presented to him by my daughter who was 9 at the time. She was asked by His Royal Highness what her favourite cheese was - her reply was “I hate cheese!”
What's the most interesting way you've seen your product used?
Jamie Oliver once promoted Garstang Blue on his Sainsbury's adverts! Sales went through the roof!
Funnily enough, In Robert Louis Stevenson's book Treasure Island, it was Lancashire cheese that Ben Gunn famously yearned for whilst marooned on a desert island “many’s the long night I’ve dreamed of cheese – toasted, mostly and woke up again”
Where in the world do they eat your produce?
Our cheese travels to the four corners of the world but I love that we have a wine maker in the Czech Republic, who ages our round waxed truckles in his cellar on the vineyard to accompany his wines! My Czech is about as good as his English but it’s great to see him support us year after year!
What's your own favourite Lancashire food or drink recommendation?
Morecambe Bay potted Shrimps – so underrated!!
If you hadn't taken this career path – what would you have done?
Possibly a farmer or an international man of mystery.
What do you do outside of work for leisure/relaxation?
Nothing beats an early cycle ride around the Trough of Bowland, 37 miles of idyllic cycling country with not a vehicle in sight!
DID YOU KNOW?
Beacon Fell Traditional Lancashire Cheese, produced by Dewlay, is one of only a handful of UK cheeses with PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) protected status or PFN (Protected Food Name).
It is produced to strict, regularly audited standards and cannot be made anywhere apart from in a specific, geographical area within Lancashire! Just as Italy's Parmigiano-Reggiano or France's Roquefort are made only in specific areas of Italy and France.
Dewlay Cheesemakers
and Cheese Shop
Garstang Bypass Rd,
Garstang
PR3 0PR Dewlay.com
The Dewlay Cheese Shop is located alongside Dewlay Cheese HQ, near Garstang (just look out for their giant wind turbine!).
Here you can buy all your favourite Dewlay cheeses, hampers, gifts and more, direct from the producer. Open 9.30am – 4.00pm Monday – Friday. You'll also find their cheeses at Booths, Sainsburys, Tesco, Aldi, Waitrose, Home Bargains, Spar, Bury Market, Preston market, Chorley Market and most good cheese outlets.
Dewlay is a Visit Lancashire Partner. Visit Lancashire, through their Taste Lancashire campaigns and activities, showcase Lancashire’s leading food and drink providers and producers, locally, nationally and internationally. For more information go to www.visitlancashire.com/Taste
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