For the second year running, Snowdonia Cheese Company was proud to be an official sponsor of the Academy of Cheese’s Young Cheesemonger of the Year contest, which champions fresh talent under the age of 30 in the cheese industry. In the finals at the World Cheese Awards at the Trondheim Spektrum, Norway, on 27th October, the winner was announced as Lily Morris from Morris’ of Usk Garden & Food Centre in Usk, Monmouthshire, south Wales.
Beating five other finalists in four different rounds to win the title, Lily, 21, impressed the judges with her considered cheeseboard suggestions, made up of British and Irish cheeses threaded together with a Norwegian twist, while her accurate cut-and-wrap skills and impeccable knowledge of cheeses helped to secure her victory.
One of the judges, Andy Swinscoe, the proprietor of the award-winning cheesemongers the Courtyard Dairy and a previous winner of the competition, said: “Lily showed real skill in her cheese mongering – not only in technical ability, but her passion for cheese produced in her region was evident … The Academy of Cheese courses have done a great job of inspiring the next generation of cheese champions.”
Lily, who has been selling cheese from her family’s business for six years and hosts , a social media channel about fine cheese, said: “I am honoured to have won Young Cheesemonger of the Year 2023. It was the best day, surrounded by thousands of tasty cheeses and lots of lovely cheesy people. The award has inspired me to continue my cheese career, selling and educating others about artisan cheese, and most importantly, it has reminded me to keep spreading the message that it doesn’t matter who you are, if you have a passion for something; go do it.”
Lily was awarded a series of prizes including a trophy; a ticket to the judges’ dinner at the World Cheese Awards; an invitation to judge at the World Cheese Awards 2024; her choice of five Academy of Cheese Level Three certification modules; and a feature in Fine Food Digest magazine.
Congratulations, Lily!