CELEBRITY chef Jamie Oliver has urged the public to be vigilant for any suspiciously cheap “posh cheese” on the market after over 22 tonnes of high-quality cheddar were stolen in a sophisticated heist targeting Neal’s Yard Dairy, a prominent London cheese specialist.

The stolen goods, valued at over £300,000, include award-winning cheeses like Hafod Welsh cheddar, crafted at Bwlchwernen Vawr Farm, home of Holden Dairy—a 300-acre organic farm in West Wales. .

This unique cheese is produced in limited quantities using unpasteurised milk from a small herd of Ayrshire cows.

The perpetrators, posing as legitimate wholesalers for a major French retailer, obtained 950 cloth-bound cheeses from Neal’s Yard Dairy before the scam was uncovered.

In a post to his Instagram followers, Oliver expressed his dismay, describing the theft as “a brazen heist of epic proportions.” He encouraged people to be vigilant, noting, “If anyone hears anything about posh cheese going for cheap, it’s probably some wrong’uns.” Referring to the bizarre nature of the theft, Oliver added, “It feels like a really weird thing to nick.”

The Metropolitan Police confirmed they are investigating the incident, which they said was reported on Monday, but so far, no arrests have been made.

International outpouring of support

Neal’s Yard Dairy reported being “overwhelmed” with support following the theft. Sarah Stewart, the owner of the artisanal cheese retailer, told The Times, “British people clearly love their cheese. Trade customers are asking, ‘What can we do?’ and we’ve had a lot of international support. Our shops have seen concerned customers, and e-commerce orders have spiked.”

The firm, based in Southwark, also confirmed it had paid the small-scale cheese producers, ensuring they wouldn’t face the financial burden of the theft. Despite the setback, Neal’s Yard Dairy is receiving uplifting messages and additional orders from both local and global customers.

The scam reportedly began in July when fraudsters contacted Neal’s Yard Dairy, impersonating a known European cheese distributor. The interaction continued over several months, showing a sophisticated understanding of the industry.

Police inquiries into the case are ongoing.