THIS WEEK: HRH says yes to gourmet cheese

The beleaguered Prince of Wales is breaking into the dairy business with

the launch of a range of gourmet cheeses.

Two mature Gloucester cheeses - one with herbs and one with herbs and

garlic - go on sale this week in grocery outlets and delicatessens

throughout the UK.

The cheeses are part of the Duchy Originals gourmet provisions business,

which is owned by the Prince of Wales’s Charities Trust. Described as

organic and vegetarian, the cheeses have been developed by Malvern

Cheesewrights in Worcestershire. The Duchy is now considering launching

other dairy products to accompany the cheeses.

The Duchy Originals label was launched in 1992 with an oaten biscuit

range. In March this year it expanded into the soft drinks business with

two fruit juice blends produced by Coca-Cola Schweppes Beverages. The

drinks: Duchy No.1 and No.3 are now sold in Tesco, Sainsbury, Asda and

Threshers.

Princes Charles’ venture is intended to boost the economy in his Duchy

of Cornwall, encouraging raw material producers and manufacturers to

work together. The Duchy is expected to start exporting the home grown

products next year.

To accompany the cheeses, the Duchy Original company has also launched a

new Orange biscuit using wheat and oats from the Duchy of Cornwall’s

Home Farm near Highgrove in Gloucestershire.

This article was first published on Marketing