Fife Cheesemaker Celebrates Award-Winning Year with 17 National Honours

A family-run cheesemaker in the East Neuk of Fife is celebrating an extraordinary year of success after securing 17 awards across five of the United Kingdom’s most respected cheese competitions.

St Andrews Farmhouse Cheese Company, based at Falside Farm near Anstruther, has enjoyed a remarkable run of recognition throughout 2026, culminating in three Gold and one Silver medal at the recent International Cheese & Dairy Awards. The latest honours were awarded to St Andrews Farmhouse Cheddar, Anster and Whisky Barrel Smoked St Andrews Farmhouse Cheddar, with Oak Smoked Anster also receiving Silver recognition.

The achievements reflect not just a successful season, but years of dedication to traditional cheesemaking and dairy farming by the Stewart family, who have built a reputation for producing handcrafted cheeses using raw milk from their own Holstein Friesian herd.

The latest success follows an equally impressive performance at the Scottish Dairy Championships, where two cheeses secured Gold medals and two more received Bronze awards. In the same period, Anster was recognised at the Artisan Cheese Awards, while further honours were collected at both the British & Irish Cheese Awards and the Virtual Cheese Awards.

Despite one of the most successful years in the company’s history, the family has had little opportunity to pause and celebrate.

Growing demand for the business’s award-winning products has meant the focus has remained firmly on production and serving customers, with much of the recent recognition arriving during one of the busiest trading periods the company has experienced.

Speaking about the achievements, Jane Stewart said the awards were a reflection of the dedication and expertise of the entire team, from the care given to the dairy herd through to the craftsmanship involved in cheesemaking. She highlighted the contribution of the company’s Head Cheesemaker, Tim, and the pride felt across the business at receiving recognition from so many prestigious industry competitions.

Established in 2008, St Andrews Farmhouse Cheese Company remains firmly rooted in Fife, with Robert and Jane Stewart working alongside sons Ben and Adam to produce a range of artisan cheeses on the family farm. Every cheese is made using traditional animal rennet and heritage starter cultures, combining time-honoured methods with modern dairy farming practices.

The company’s success is another example of the quality, innovation and craftsmanship found within Fife’s food and drink sector. As demand for locally produced, high-quality food continues to grow, businesses such as St Andrews Farmhouse Cheese Company are helping to strengthen the region’s reputation as a destination for outstanding food and drink experiences.

With 17 awards already secured this year, 2026 will be remembered as a landmark year for the East Neuk producer – and further evidence that Fife’s thriving food and drink sector continues to compete successfully on a national stage.

2026 Awards Summary

British & Irish Cheese Awards

• Silver – Anster
• Bronze – Whisky Barrel Smoked St Andrews Farmhouse Cheddar
• Bronze – Oak Smoked Anster
• Bronze – St Andrews Farmhouse Cheddar

Virtual Cheese Awards

• Gold – Anster
• Gold – Red Anster
• Silver – St Andrews Farmhouse Cheddar
• Silver – Whisky Barrel Smoked St Andrews Farmhouse Chedda

Royal Highland Show Scottish Dairy Championships

• Gold – St Andrews Farmhouse Cheddar
• Gold – Whisky Barrel Smoked St Andrews Farmhouse Cheddar
• Bronze – Anster
• Bronze – Oak Smoked Anster

Artisan Cheese Awards

• Silver – Anster

International Cheese & Dairy Awards

• Gold – St Andrews Farmhouse Cheddar
• Gold – Anster
• Gold – Whisky Barrel Smoked St Andrews Farmhouse Cheddar
• Silver – Oak Smoked Anster

www.standrewscheese.co.uk