Ilchester®, the number one British flavoured cheese supplier, is pulling out all the stops for this year's Halloween and Bonfire Night with the launch of two new cheeses – available at Waitrose – that take inspiration from these two autumnal events and are the perfect food to enjoy at any party.

Taking its inspiration from the autumnal favourite, spiced apple, Ilchester® have combined an award-winning Wensleydale with Spiced Apple, Date and Raisin.

Lisa Harrison, Senior Brand Manager for Ilchester, said: "Halloween presents us with a great opportunity to be imaginative with our cheese creations so this year, we have launched Ilchester® Wensleydale with Spice Apple, Date and Raisin, which links to the apple bobbing traditions of Halloween, and the cinnamon spices add a little kick to the cheese. Cheese with a real bite is particularly popular as consumers look for food with a bit of heat as the nights start to draw in. 

“When it comes to pairings, this cheese really adds a bit of autumn indulgence when it is crumbled over a hot apple pie with a dash of cinnamon, served with a sweet White Moscato d'Asti.”

Then for Bonfire Night, there is the Ilchester® Smoky Bonfire Cheddar with Smoky Chipotle and Chilli. The chipotle and chilli gives the cheddar a nice smoky, but spicy flavour.

Harrison said: “It is the perfect addition to any burger, served with a beer or light fruity Riesling, enjoyed around a nice cosy Fireworks Night bonfire.”

Harrison said the West Country cheese maker, which celebrates its 60th anniversary next year, has seen a rise in the demand for seasonal themed products over the last five years. “People are looking for variety in the food that they buy, and also the tastes and ingredients that come with the harvest and autumn seasons, which allow us to be really imaginative and innovative with our cheese offerings at this particular time of year.”

These two new cheeses will be available to buy, cut into portions from 500g half wheels from deli counters in 250 Waitrose stores from 29 September to 20 November.

Media contact

Angie Cronin
Loudbird PR and Communications

Tel: 07970 810302

loudbirdprandcomms@gmail.com

NOTES TO EDITORS

About Wensleydale Cheese

• The award-winning Wensleydale cheese is made in Shropshire from a traditional bespoke recipe that gives the cheese its distinctive characteristics of being crumbly, delicate and slightly sweet.
• The Wensleydale cheese was first made in 1922 and has gone on to win multiple awards, the most recent including Gold in the British Cheese Awards 2019, Silver at the Royal Cheshire Show, winner of the Wensleydale Cup at the Great Yorkshire Show 2019, Bronze in the International Cheese Awards 2019 and Bronze in the Global Cheese Awards 2019.

About Ilchester®

• The West Country town of Ilchester® is home to the Ilchester® range of cheeses which launched back in 1962 with its first-ever cheese, the Ilchester® Beer Cheese.
• Ilchester® is part of the Norseland portfolio of cheeses. Other brands include:
  • Jarlsberg® UK's No.1 Deli Cheese with Holes*
  • Mexicana® UK's No.1 Spicy Cheese
  • Applewood® UK's No 1. Smoky Cheese
  • Applewood® Vegan
  • Mexicana® Vegan
  • Ilchester® Vegan