Neal's Yard Dairy in London fell victim to a scam that cost them over 20 tons of cheddar cheese and nearly $400,000 in damages.
Simon Dack / Alamy Stock PhotoNeal’s Yard Dairy shop in London.
Neal’s Yard Dairy, a cheese retailer based in London, was recently robbed of more than 20 tons of cheddar in a sophisticated scam. After the company was approached by a fraudster posing as a legitimate wholesaler, employees shipped 950 clothbound cheeses to France — only to realize the whole thing had been a setup.
As a result, the business took a substantial financial hit of more than $390,000. The theft became even more high-profile when celebrity chef Jamie Oliver got involved, rallying behind Neal’s Yard Dairy and urging his followers on social media to keep an eye out for the stolen goods.
Although an arrest has been made, the suspect was released on bail pending further inquiry, leaving many wondering what the motivation was behind this bizarre scheme.
Scammers Steal 24 Tons Of Cheese From Neal’s Yard Dairy
Neal’s Yard Dairy/FacebookA truck loaded up with cheese from Neal’s Yard Dairy.
On Monday, Oct. 21, London police received a report that a “large quantity” of cheese had been stolen from Neal’s Yard Dairy in Southwark, a district in Central London. As The Guardian reported, the company had been approached by a man claiming to be a wholesale distributor for a large French retailer and worked out a deal to acquire 950 wheels of cheddar from Neal’s Yard Dairy. The company then worked with three artisan cheesemakers to fulfill the order.
According to the company, the three stolen cheeses — Hafod Welsh organic cheddar, Westcombe cheddar, and Pitchfork cheddar — are among “the most sought-after artisan cheeses in the U.K.” Each of the cheeses can sell for anywhere between $9 and $16 for a roughly half-pound slice, making them rather pricey — and possibly “a particular target” for theft.
“Neal’s Yard Dairy has been the victim of a theft resulting in the loss of over 22 tonnes [24 tons] of clothbound cheddar,” the company wrote in a Facebook post. “The theft involved a fraudulent buyer posing as a legitimate wholesale distributor for a major French retailer. Over 950 wheels of Jafod, Westcombe, and Pitchfork Cheddar were delivered before the fraud was discovered.”
The total estimate for the value of all three cheeses combined is upwards of $390,000. Neal’s Yard Dairy took the financial hit itself and paid the three cheesemakers in full.
Neal’s Yard Dairy/FacebookAn assortment of cheeses at Neal’s Yard Dairy.
Tom Calver, the director of Westcombe Dairy, expressed appreciation for Neal’s Yard Dairy for “ensuring that we were paid for the cheese, even in the darkest of times.”
“The process of making that cheese started almost three years ago when we planted seeds for the animals’ feed in the ground,” Calver added. “The amount of work that’s gone into nurturing the cows, emphasizing best farming practice, and transforming the milk one batch at a time to produce the best possible cheese is beyond estimation. And for that to be stolen… it’s absolutely terrible.”
“It might sound naive to fall victim to a scam, but the truth is that the artisan cheese world is a place where trust is deeply embedded in all transactions,” said Patrick Holden, the owner of the farm that makes Hafod cheddar. “The breach of trust by this fraudulent customer is a violation of the atmosphere of good faith and respect… It’s a world where one’s word is one’s bond.”
Neal’s Yard Dairy said it is now taking steps “to ensure both its financial stability and the continued development of the British artisan cheese sector.”
An arrest has been made in relation to the theft — but not all the mysteries have yet been solved.
The Police Arrest A Potential Cheese Thief
On Oct. 31, The Guardian published a follow-up report noting that police had arrested a 63-year-old man on suspicion of fraud by false representation and handling stolen goods. He was questioned at a south London police station and then released on bail “pending further inquiries.”
Meanwhile, in the interim, more members of the community weighed in on the cheese robbery. Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver called the situation “a real shame.”
“There has been a great cheese robbery,” Oliver said. “Some of the best cheddar cheese in the world has been stolen… If anyone hears anything about posh cheese going for cheap, it’s probably some wrong’uns.”
The initial shock of the scam still hasn’t faded away, as British cheesemakers remain stumped and baffled by the theft.
Mark Baynes / Alamy Stock PhotoNeal’s Yard Dairy was founded in 1979 as a provider of artisan cheeses from the British Isles.
“We, like the rest of the world, were left wondering, who wants that much cheese?” said Ben Ticehurst, head cheesemaker at the Trethowan Brothers dairy, which produced more than 12 tons of the stolen Pitchfork cheddar. “If you’re not a supermarket, what do you do with 22 tonnes of cheese? It’s really puzzling for us, and so hopefully the arrest will bring answers.”
So far, however, no answers have been provided. As the investigation continues, perhaps authorities will be able to find some explanation. For now, the local community and artisan cheesemakers are doing their best to support Neal’s Yard Dairy in this particularly trying time.
“I was really concerned about what it was and the implications of it,” Calver said. “Neal’s Yard have been fantastic. We are just trying to support them as much as possible by encouraging people to shop with them. It is a huge, very difficult loss.”
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