This year marks a very special milestone for Snowdonia Cheese Co. For 25 years, we've been dedicated to the pursuit of incredible flavour – and what began with a single cheese truckle has grown into a multi-award-winning range with a global following.
Where it all began
Snowdonia Cheese Co has been creating exceptional cheese since 2001. The philosophy of brothers John and Richard – fourth-generation dairy farmers in North Wales – was to use only the highest quality, carefully sourced ingredients. The vision was simple: to create delicious, small-batch cheeses with as much character as the wild and beautiful Snowdonia landscape.
The first truckles soon appeared at farmers’ markets, food festivals and agricultural shows across the UK. Wrapped in its signature black wax, Black Bomber extra mature Cheddar quickly became a favourite. Creamy, intensely savoury and demandingly moreish, it set the tone for everything that followed. Soon it was joined by Red Devil – our fiery Red Leicester with a secret blend of Habanero chillies, peppers and spices – and Green Thunder, a sensationally savoury mature Cheddar with roasted garlic and aromatic garden herbs. We now produce 12 varieties of Cheddar and Red Leicester, sealed in richly coloured wax.
An international following
Through the early years, Snowdonia cheeses built a loyal following via independent farm shops, butchers and cheesemongers. Word spread quickly, and throughout the 2010s the range began appearing in selected premium grocery retailers.
In 2012, Snowdonia Cheese Co began exporting internationally. Since then, the range has travelled far beyond North Wales and is now enjoyed in 35 countries around the world.
Expanding the Snowdonia range
While cheese has always been at the heart of what we do, the Snowdonia range has grown over time. In 2018, we introduced our range of chutneys – perfect for spooning, dipping and pairing with our cheeses. Crunchy crackers followed, baked the traditional way, along with velvety cheese bakes created for eating at home.
Meanwhile, the cheese range continued to expand, too. In 2020, we introduced Truffle Trove – an extra mature Cheddar with Black Summer truffle from the wooded hills of Le Marche in central Italy – while Rock Star launched in 2021. Our luxurious cave-aged Cheddar is matured deep within the slate caverns of Llechwedd at Blaenau Ffestiniog, surrounded by the mountains of North Wales and shaped by the unique underground environment.
A growing list of awards
Over the years, Snowdonia cheeses have received recognition on the global stage. Black Bomber has been voted Best British Cheese Brand multiple times in the Fine Food Digest Best Brands survey and has won the Super Gold award at the Mondial du Fromage on two occasions. More recently, in 2025 we updated Ruby Mist, now infused with Graham’s Late Bottled Vintage Port and French brandy, and it went on to win Super Gold at the World Cheese Awards.
Along the way, Snowdonia Cheese Co has also received the prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade and numerous honours at the British and International Cheese Awards.
Celebrating 25 years with Purple Vale
To mark our 25th anniversary, we wanted to create a cheese that was truly special. The result is Purple Vale, a rich and crumbly mature Cheddar combined with balsamic caramelised red onion chutney and Giusti 3 Gold Medals Balsamic Vinegar of Modena.
Creamy, crumbly and intensely savoury with a whisper of honeyed sweetness, Purple Vale brings together two culinary traditions. Our finest mature Cheddar meets centuries of Italian craftsmanship from the Giusti family, producers of balsamic vinegar in Modena since 1605.
It’s a meeting of two heritages shaped by time, patience and an uncompromising commitment to flavour – and a fitting way to celebrate 25 years of Snowdonia Cheese Co.
Discover Purple Vale here.
