H&B teams up with Beillevaire to offer new French cheese range

Wholesaler Harvey & Brockless is looking to boost sales of French cheese after partnering with French producer and distributor Beillevaire to launch more than 20 new cheeses.

The initial 23-strong range comprises classics including Saint Marcellin, Beaufort, 24-month-aged Comté, Langres and Roquefort, but other lesser-known seasonal cheeses will also be introduced in the coming months, said Owen Davies, Harvey & Brockless’ category manager for artisan cheese.

“We’ve had a big focus on British cheese in recent years, which we will continue to champion, but we think the time is ripe for a renewed focus on French cheese,” he said. “France is still home to amazing cheesemakers, in terms of quality and price point.”

He added: “Beillevaire was a good fit because, like us, they are cheesemakers in their own right, and are committed to working with small producers.” 

Beillevaire makes raw milk cheeses at its Machecoul headquarters in the Loire Atlantique region, as well as at dairies in Normandy, Poitou-Charentes and the Ardèche. It also has maturing caves in the Jura and the Pyrenees and distributes cheese from around 250 other producers.

Other highlights in the new range include raw milk Epoisses, Reblochon and Munster from fermier producers, as well as lesser-known cheeses, such as Clochette goat’s cheese from the Loire Valley and Roche Montagne blue from the Auvergne.

The range was launched last month at Harvey & Brockless’s Meet the Makers event at London’s Freemasons Hall, which hosted more than 70 cheese, charcuterie and fine food producers.  

This story appeared in the July issue of Fine Food Digest. You can read more on the digital edition here.

Read more of the latest news from Fine Food Digest here