A recent Valentine's survey commissioned by CNIEL* and conducted by Opinium

reveals interesting facts, not least about the love for cheese.

According to the survey, chocolate remains the preferred Valentine's gift for 20% of those who celebrate

Valentines compared to 14% who prefer flowers. The adage, 'Food is the way to the heart,' rings especially

true for men, with nearly half (47%) desiring a gift of food or wine for Valentine's Day, compared to 28% of

women.

When it comes to the perfect Valentine's date, 56% of those who celebrate would choose a meal in a good

restaurant. Watching a film with a box of chocolates or taking a picturesque walk are joint second choices,

each appealing to 35% of respondents. Meanwhile, 20% of Valentine's Day fans would enjoy going to a

show or comedy.

The survey also revealed that more than a third of the UK population shares a passion for cheese. It

certainly has a place in our hearts and fridges: more than three-quarters (78%) of respondents stated they

have at least one cheese in the fridge, with 59% enjoying a wide variety of cheeses - such as Brie,

Camembert and Morbier.

Passion for cheese is particularly strong among younger people, with 44% of those aged 18-34 expressing

their love for it, compared to 30% of those aged 55 and over. Regional differences also emerge, with 48%

of Londoners and 44% of respondents in Yorkshire and Humberside passionate about cheese, compared to

just 22% in Southampton. Beyond Valentine's Day, more than half (52%) of respondents agree that sharing

a cheeseboard with loved ones is a great way to enjoy an evening.

This Valentine's Day, let cheese be the way to your loved one's heart! A wide variety of European cheeses

will seduce even the most delicate palates and allow you to innovate and surprise. If you are planning to

share a cheeseboard for Valentine's Day or for date nights throughout the year, here are some top tips.

1/ Before serving the cheeses, let them stand for at least an hour and a half at room temperature so that

they develop their aromas fully.Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s)

only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or FranceAgriMer. Neither the

European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

2/ Offer a diverse choice of cheeses that complement each other in terms of taste and texture. At a

minimum, make sure you have at least one soft, hard and blue cheese but to really impress five is the magic

number.

3/ Provide a knife for each cheese to avoid cross contamination of flavours and leave enough

space between the cheeses to allow for guests to cut and remove their cheese easily.

4/ Place the cheeses from the mildest to the strongest in a clockwise direction; this helps people to taste in

the best sensory order.

5/ Dried fruit, fresh fruit, fruit jellies, seeds, aromatic herbs and edible flowers all add interesting colour,

flavours and textures to your cheeseboard - let your creativity flow.

For a mild cheese that brings something decadent to the board, try a Brillat-Savarin, a triple cream cheese

that melts in the mouth and leaves a rich buttery and sweet flavour. Another delicious mild cheese that you

can find in a wide variety of shops is Doux de Montagne - a light, cheese dotted with small holes with mild,

fruity, buttery and herbal flavours. Both cheeses pair well with a glass of Champagne.

If you are more traditional Neufchâtel, a pretty heart-shaped cheese is a perfect option. Its white, slightly

fluffy rind and lightly salted, creamy pastry with a milky taste will melt your partner's heart.

Whilst cheddar remains the UK's favourite cheese, Comté PDO is France's most popular hard cheese. It is

sweet, slightly nutty and becomes harder with deeper flavours as it matures.

With their blue green mould and strong, salty flavours, even cheese lovers can be hesitant when it comes to

blue cheeses. For a gentler introduction, Fourme d'Ambert is mild with a velvety texture and subtle

flavours. Food really is the way to anyone's heart.

For more information, visit: www.dairy-products-from-france.com/cheese/

Ends

Notes to editors

*Opinium survey conducted among a national representation sample of 2,000 UK adults between January 7th - 10th.

For high res images, please contact: jpjoachim@sopexa.com

*About CNIEL:

CNIEL, (Centre National Interprofessionnel de l'Economie Laitière) the French Dairy Interbranch Organisation, is an

organisation recognised by French and European public authorities which brings together players from the French dairy

sector (milk producers, cooperatives and private companies, people in mass retail, trade and institutional catering.).

CNIEL seeks to promote the economic development of the sector, facilitate relations between producers and processor and promote

milk and dairy products.

OPINIUM is an award winning strategic insight agency built on the belief that in a world of uncertainty and complexity, success

depends on the ability to stay on pulse of what people think, feel and do.