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Cheese isn’t at the top of the list of items most people would expect to be at the center of a massive criminal heist, but one retailer in the UK is dealing with the fallout from a scam he claims has led to huge losses. .
France and Italy typically get most of the credit when it comes to the European countries known for their cheese, but Britain can also hold its own on that front thanks to the cheddar the country is known for (that particular variety derives its name from the village in England where it was first produced).
According to the BBC, Artisan cheesemakers in the country produce aged cheddar that can sell for more than $27 a pound, and they appeared to receive a hefty reward when someone claiming to represent a chain of supermarkets in France approached London-based Neal’s Yard Dairy to place an order. for 22 tonnes (about £4.85 million) over the summer.
The scale of that request required the company to recruit three cheesemakers to fulfill the order shipped to France in September, but the situation became worse when they failed to receive the £300,000 (~$390,000) they charged to the buyer. it went radio silent as soon as the cheddar was delivered.
David Lockwood, partner at Neal’s Yard Dairy, said the company then contacted police told The New York Times they are currently investigating “the theft of a large quantity of cheese.” The company confirmed that the trio of producers received compensation for the stolen cheddar, and they are pessimistic about the possibility of recovering some of the money lost through an insurance claim.
It is unclear where the cheese ended up when it left London, although one of the suppliers believes it was shipped to Russia or the Middle East due to the relative lack of control. The arrival of the black market can attract many people compared to other countries. where the thieves would have a harder time finding potential buyers who might be more curious about its origins.