Over 22,000 kilos of cheddar cheese worth Rs 3 crore stolen in major scam from…

In a well-orchestrated operation, thieves posing as wholesalers for a well-known French retailer successfully fooled London’s Neal’s Yard Dairy and stole a whopping 22 tonnes of high-quality cheddar cheese, according to The Metro. The heist, which involved more than 950 wheels of high-quality artisan cheddar, has sent shockwaves through the cheese industry and left the dairy and its partners dealing a major financial blow.

The theft, which took place at the Neal’s Yard Dairy warehouse in Southwark, involved criminals posing as legitimate suppliers to a leading French retailer. Misled by the act of thieving, the dairy employees handed over the valuable shipment, assuming it was a regular transaction. Only after the cheese ran out did the dairy realize they had fallen victim to a sophisticated scam.

The Metropolitan Police, which is investigating the incident, said: “On Monday, October 21, we received a report of the theft of a significant quantity of cheese from a manufacturer in Southwark. Details of the incident are being investigated.” However, authorities have not yet made any arrests in connection with the theft.

Despite the significant loss, Neal’s Yard Dairy has pledged to support the small-scale cheesemakers affected by the theft: Hafod, Westcombe and Pitchfork. These artisans, recognized for their high-quality handcrafted cheddar, will not face any financial consequences due to Neal’s Yard Dairy’s commitment to cover the costs associated with the theft.

This assistance underlines the dairy’s commitment to its producers during this extraordinary event. With losses estimated at around £300,000 (over Rs 3 crore), the stolen cheese constitutes a substantial portion of Neal’s Yard’s cheddar inventory, affecting both the company and its artisan partners.

Celebrity chef and restaurateur Jamie Oliver shared his shock over the theft on Instagram, helping to raise awareness of the incident on social media. He said: “In a shocking turn of events, Neal’s Yard Dairy has become the target of a daring robbery of epic proportions,” highlighting the significant value of the stolen cheddar.

As the investigation continues, the incident has caused alarm within the cheese community, which hopes the case will lead to greater awareness regarding supply chain safety.