Pilgrims Choice
IndustryCheese
Founded1985 (1985)
FounderDavid Hardisty
HeadquartersLeek, Staffordshire, England
ProductsFarmhouse Vintage Extra Mature
OwnerOrnua
Websitepilgrimschoice.com

Pilgrims Choice is a cheese brand owned by Irish dairy exporter Ornua (formerly Adams Foods Ltd and the North Downs Dairy), with UK operations based in Leek, Staffordshire.

Despite an Identification Code of UK LK002, Pilgrims Choice is substantially sourced from Irish-produced cheese.[1] The company packs include Mature Cheddar, Mature Lighter and Extra Mature Cheddar.[2]

History

Pilgrims Choice was founded by David Hardisty, the founder of North Downs Dairy, in 1985,[3] and was bought by the Irish Dairy Board in 1997.[4] The company's brand name comes from the route known as Pilgrims' Way, which Hardisty drove down daily on his way to Wincanton.

The brand Pilgrims Choice was launched onto the retail market in 1999 as a pre-packaged cheese in its trademark black packaging. Pilgrims Choice Farmhouse Vintage Extra Mature then became Britain's fastest growing Protected Designated Origin West Country farmhouse cheddar brand, with sales of more than £20 million by the year 2000.[4]

In 2014, Pilgrims Choice partnered with the television show Britain's Got Talent to launch the ‘Make The Pilgrims Choice’ campaign.[5] The campaign gave viewers the chance to vote for contestants that did not get through the first round of auditions by visiting the company's website and casting their vote.[6]

In September 2020, it was announced that Ornua would revamp Pilgrims Choice cheese blocks with a plastic-saving eco-friendly pack format.[7][8]

In July 2022, Pilgrims Choice launched a 10-second TV advertising campaign targeting gastronomes on Food Network, as well as Discovery+ and YouTube.[9]

In October 2022, it was announced that Simon Ball was appointed by Ornua as the managing director of Ornua Foods.[10]

Reception

In 2019, Pilgrims Choice was ranked the UK's 4th top cheese brand by The Grocer.[11] In 2020, Ornua reported sales of Pilgrims Choice had grown by 25% in the past 52 weeks, outperforming the general category by 10%.[12]

In 2022, Pilgrims Choice was ranked the UK’s 2nd top cheddar and Kerrygold and 3rd block butter.[10]

References

  1. ↑ Shortt, Robert (20 June 2018). "Pleas for Irish cheese as a hard Brexit looms". RTÉ.ie.
  2. ↑ Rice, Elle May; Sleight, Emily; Barton, Phoebe (18 May 2022). "We tried value cheese and one 'rivalled Cathedral City'". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
  3. ↑ "Our History". Ornua Foods.
  4. 1 2 "Pilgrims progress".
  5. ↑ Glot, Julia. "Pilgrims Choice links with Britain's Got Talent". The Grocer. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
  6. ↑ "Pilgrims Choice partners with Britain's Got Talent for 'Make The Pilgrims Choice' campaign". The Drum. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
  7. ↑ White, Kevin. "Ornua revamps Pilgrims Choice cheese blocks with new plastic-saving shape". The Grocer. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
  8. ↑ Calnan, Orla (21 September 2020). "Pilgrims Choice leads the way with move to the 'Less Plastic More Fantastic' Megablock". Ornua. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
  9. ↑ "Pilgrims Choice shows foodies getting territorial over cheese dishes in witty TVC". The Drum. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
  10. 1 2 Duncan, Grace. "Ornua Foods UK appoints ex-Greencore exec Simon Ball as new MD". The Grocer. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
  11. ↑ "Dairy: Cheese: Top Products 2019". The Grocer.
  12. ↑ Addy, Rod. "Ornua Foods UK invests £3m in Leek factory". Food Manufacture.
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