British cheesemakers take lead role in bright lights of Las Vegas

DAIRY exporters have taken centre stage in Las Vegas to showcase worldclass British cheese at an exclusive event for key buyers.

Sixteen exporters took part in the recent Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB)-hosted British Cheese Night, which took place at the Mandalay Bay Hotel.

The event, which coincided with the Winter Fancy Food Show, brought together exporters with existing and potential customers. It attracted more than 80 high-end buyers from hotels and retailers, chefs and distributors and included cheese displays and tastings, underlining what British dairy exporters have to offer.

Lucy Randolph, AHDB head of international trade development (dairy), said afterwards: “Our British Cheese Night was a great success. This is the second year we have run this event which provides a fantastic opportunity for our British cheese exporters to showcase their worldclass products to high-end buyers in this sought-after venue.

“Last year’s event helped deliver some significant business wins for exporters who took part and our ambition is for this year’s British Cheese Night to replicate and build on that success.”

The US is the UK’s second biggest dairy export market and analysis by the AHDB has highlighted further opportunities over the next decade as cheese consumption increases among American households.

Ms Randolph added: “There are considerable potential long-term opportunities in the US for the British dairy sector, building on our current successes in that market. AHDB is committed to working with industry to capitalise on those opportunities and our British Cheese Night has a key role to play in helping realise that ambition.

“Our aim is to grow the event to become the go-to annual dairy showcase in the industry calendar for buyers in the US and help our exporters gain a stronger foothold in the US market.”