Scammers steal 22 tonnes of cheese from London specialist

Fraudsters made off with 22 tonnes of cheddar cheese wheels from Neal’s Yard Dairy in London, UK, after posing as a wholesale distributor for a major French retailer.

The 950 wheels, reported to be worth upwards of £300,000 (around $390,000), are thought to have been taken out of the country, possibly to Russia or the Middle East, according to media reports citing Hafod Welsh Cheddar, one of the suppliers of the cheeses, which can retail at as much as £45 per kilo.

The artisanal food sector has rallied around the company, likely making it harder to pass on the stolen cheese in markets with closer ties to the UK, including the US and Australia.

The fraudsters asked Southwark-based Neal's Yard to dispatch it to another warehouse in the UK, from which it was collected before the criminals disappeared without a trace. The Metropolitan Police has confirmed it is investigating the theft.

"Despite the significant financial blow, Neal’s Yard Dairy has honoured its commitment to its small-scale suppliers, having already paid the three artisan cheesemakers in full," said the company in a statement. The three suppliers are Hafod Welsh Organic Cheddar, Westcombe Cheddar, and Pitchfork Cheddar.

"The company is now taking steps to address the situation to ensure both its financial stability and the continued development of the British artisan cheese sector."