Cathedral City Products

Cathedral City: Britain's Best-Selling Cheddar for Over 50 Years Cathedral City stands as the undisputed leader of British cheese. With annual sales exceeding £286 million and more than double the market share of its nearest competitor, this Cornish-made Cheddar has earned its place in the nation's fridges. At Grocefully, we help you compare Cathedral City prices across UK supermarkets to find the best deals on Britain's favourite cheese. From Wells to the Nation's Favourite The Cathedral City story begins in Somerset, where the original owners Mendip Foods operated near Wells – the cathedral city that gave the brand its name. The distinctive logo featuring Wells Cathedral established visual identity that continues today. In 1995, Dairy Crest acquired the Cathedral City brand from Mendip Foods Ltd, recognising potential that would transform British cheese retailing. Production moved to Davidstow Creamery in Cornwall, a facility that would become the largest cheese factory in the UK and the largest mature cheddar plant in the world. Dairy Crest's origins traced back to the 1960s when the Milk Marketing Board began selling cheese and butter under the Dairy Crest name. Through the 1980s, the MMB's milk processing operation became a separate division handling surplus raw milk. Privatisation in 1996 listed Dairy Crest on the London Stock Exchange. For over two decades under Dairy Crest ownership, Cathedral City grew from promising brand to market dominance. The combination of consistent quality, effective marketing, and broad distribution established the brand British households trust most. The Saputo Era On February 22, 2019, Canadian dairy giant Saputo announced acquisition of Dairy Crest, valuing the business at £975 million. The transaction completed on April 15, 2019, bringing Cathedral City under international ownership whilst maintaining British production. Saputo Inc., founded in Montreal in 1954 by the Saputo family, ranks among the world's top ten dairy processors. The company's global scale provided resources for continued Cathedral City development whilst its dairy expertise complemented existing British operations. Following acquisition, Dairy Crest rebranded as Saputo Dairy UK, though Cathedral City maintained its established brand identity. Cornwall production continued, preserving the British provenance central to brand positioning. In 2020, Saputo introduced Cathedral City to Canadian and American markets, extending British cheddar heritage internationally. Global distribution expanded the brand beyond its British heartland without compromising domestic availability. Market Leadership Cathedral City's market dominance reflects sustained consumer preference. Sales figures tell a compelling story. Annual sales exceed £286.7 million as of 2024, more than double the closest competitor. This represents approximately 10% of the total UK cheese market – remarkable share for a single brand. YouGov data ranks Cathedral City as the 9th most popular food and snack brand in Great Britain overall, demonstrating recognition extending beyond the cheese category. Among cheese brands specifically, Cathedral City leads by substantial margin. Over 11 million British consumers regularly select Cathedral City when surveyed about brand preferences. This scale of preference reflects consistent quality delivery across decades, not merely effective marketing. Davidstow Creamery Understanding Cathedral City requires understanding Davidstow. Located in Cornwall, Davidstow Creamery operates as the largest cheese factory in the UK and the world's largest mature cheddar production facility. This scale provides efficiency whilst expertise ensures quality. The creamery uses 100% British milk from dedicated local farms, maintaining provenance credentials important to British consumers. Supply chain proximity to production ensures freshness, with Cornish dairy herds providing consistent raw material. Over 50 years of cheesemaking expertise informs production methods at Davidstow. Traditional cheddar techniques combine with modern food safety systems to produce cheese meeting both heritage expectations and contemporary standards. Award-winning quality confirms production excellence. Cathedral City has won Best English Cheddar at the Nantwich International Cheese Awards, Gold at the Global Cheese Awards, and the prestigious Danisco DuPont Grand Prix – accumulating 14 major wins in 20 years. Understanding the Range Cathedral City offers comprehensive coverage across cheese formats and maturities. Mature Cheddar The flagship Mature Cheddar is aged approximately 9 months, developing mellow, buttery taste that defines Cathedral City for most consumers. This balance of flavour and accessibility makes Mature the best-selling variant. Available in block, sliced, and grated formats, Mature Cheddar serves multiple uses from sandwich filling to cooking ingredient to cheese board centrepiece. Extra Mature Cheddar Extra Mature ages approximately 14 months, developing firmer texture and more intense flavour. This variant suits those preferring stronger cheddar character whilst retaining Cathedral City's signature smoothness. The longer ageing process creates different eating experience – more assertive flavour, slightly crumblier texture, greater complexity for those who appreciate it. Vintage Cheddar Extended ageing produces Vintage variants for serious cheddar enthusiasts. These premium options deliver maximum flavour development possible whilst maintaining Cathedral City quality standards. Vintage typically commands premium pricing reflecting longer production cycles and more intensive quality management during extended ageing. Sliced Cheese Pre-sliced formats provide convenience for sandwich making. Consistent slice thickness ensures predictable portioning, whilst Cathedral City flavour distinguishes these from generic sliced cheese. Packaging developments maintain freshness across the pack, avoiding the dried edges that plague some sliced cheese products. Grated Cheese Pre-grated Cathedral City saves preparation time for cooking applications. Pasta bakes, macaroni cheese, and similar dishes benefit from quality cheddar without grating effort. Grated formats use the same cheese as block products – convenience doesn't compromise quality. Snacking Products Cathedral City Snack Bars and similar portioned products address on-the-go occasions. These provide protein-rich snacking whilst maintaining brand quality. Kids' snacking options provide portion-controlled cheese suitable for lunchboxes, encouraging healthy snacking habits with familiar brand reassurance. High Protein Range Cathedral City High Protein products address fitness-conscious consumers seeking protein sources beyond supplements. Cheese naturally provides protein; these products emphasise this nutritional benefit. Plant-Based Range Reflecting changing dietary preferences, Cathedral City offers plant-based cheddar alternatives. This range received the Plant Based Taste Award in 2022 for Best Plant-Based Cheese, demonstrating competitive quality within the growing dairy-free segment. Plant-based options allow Cathedral City brand loyalists to maintain familiar taste whilst reducing dairy consumption. Lactose-Free Options For those with lactose intolerance, Cathedral City's lactose-free variants provide cheese enjoyment without digestive consequences. These products remove lactose whilst retaining cheddar characteristics. This range serves the significant population unable to digest lactose comfortably, extending Cathedral City accessibility beyond mainstream dairy consumers. Nutritional Profile Cheddar cheese provides genuine nutritional benefits alongside undeniable enjoyment. Protein Content Cathedral City provides complete protein supporting muscle maintenance and repair. The protein quality from dairy sources offers excellent amino acid profiles. Cheese serves as convenient protein source for those struggling to meet requirements through meat alone. Vegetarians particularly benefit from cheese's protein contribution. Calcium Dairy products remain primary dietary calcium sources for most people. Cathedral City contributes meaningfully to calcium intake supporting bone health. One portion of cheddar provides substantial calcium percentage, particularly valuable for those at osteoporosis risk. Fat Considerations Cheddar contains significant fat, including saturated fat. Moderation matters, particularly for those managing cardiovascular risk factors. However, cheese fat satisfies appetite effectively, potentially reducing overall calorie consumption through increased satiety. Simple fat avoidance often backfires nutritionally. Where to Buy Cathedral City As Britain's leading cheddar, Cathedral City enjoys universal distribution. Major Supermarkets Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda, Morrisons, and Waitrose all stock comprehensive Cathedral City ranges. Block, sliced, grated, and speciality variants typically appear in cheese aisles. Larger stores carry broader selection including Vintage and lactose-free options. Convenience formats stock core variants. Online Grocery Ocado and supermarket delivery services provide Cathedral City access for home delivery customers. Online shopping suits bulk purchasing or accessing variants unavailable locally. Discount Retailers Aldi and Lidl occasionally stock Cathedral City through special promotions, offering value opportunities for alert shoppers. Convenience Stores Co-op, Spar, and similar convenience retailers stock Cathedral City, typically focusing on smaller block and sliced formats suited to immediate consumption. Price Comparison Matters Cathedral City pricing varies significantly across retailers and formats. Larger blocks offer better per-gram value than smaller packs. Multi-buy promotions can dramatically reduce effective pricing. Comparing prices through Grocefully identifies best current deals, particularly valuable given Cathedral City's premium positioning within the cheddar category. Cooking with Cathedral City Quality cheddar transforms numerous dishes. Cheese Sauces Cathedral City melts smoothly, creating proper cheese sauce without the graininess cheap alternatives produce. Cauliflower cheese, macaroni cheese, and cheese-topped dishes benefit from quality cheddar. The flavour intensity means less cheese achieves equivalent taste impact, partially offsetting premium pricing in cooking applications. Gratins and Bakes Topping pasta bakes, fish pies, and vegetable gratins with Cathedral City creates golden, flavourful crusts. Grated formats suit these applications perfectly. Toasties and Melts The classic cheese toastie demands proper cheddar. Cathedral City's melt characteristics and flavour intensity satisfy this quintessentially British comfort food. Cheese Boards Block Cathedral City suits cheese board presentation, particularly Extra Mature or Vintage variants. Quality branded cheddar anchors boards featuring more exotic options. Cathedral City vs Competitors Consumers choosing cheddar encounter various options. Cathedral City vs Pilgrims Choice Both brands compete for mainstream cheddar buyers. Taste preferences vary individually; both deliver consistent quality. Price promotions often determine choice for those without strong preference. Cathedral City vs Supermarket Own-Brand Supermarket cheddars cost less than Cathedral City. Some own-brand mature cheddars perform well in blind tastings, though consistency varies more than established brands. For regular cheese consumption, comparing Cathedral City to own-brand alternatives helps assess value for money. Taste-testing both informs preference-based decisions. Cathedral City vs Artisan Cheddar Specialist cheesemakers produce cheddars with distinct characters – farmhouse cheddar, clothbound varieties, and regional specialities. These typically cost significantly more whilst offering different eating experiences. Cathedral City provides reliable, consistent cheddar rather than artisan variation. Both have appropriate occasions. Storage and Handling Maximising Cathedral City value requires proper storage. Refrigeration Store cheese in refrigerator at 2-5°C. Original packaging suits short-term storage; rewrapping in cling film or using cheese-specific containers suits longer keeping. Avoid freezing block cheddar if possible – texture suffers. Grated cheese freezes acceptably for cooking purposes. Serving Temperature Remove cheese from refrigerator 30 minutes before serving to reach room temperature. Cold cheese delivers muted flavour; slight warming reveals complexity. This matters most for cheese board presentation where flavour appreciation takes priority. Avoiding Waste Cathedral City's quality justifies consuming all purchased cheese rather than allowing waste. Trim any dry edges rather than discarding entire pieces. Grate leftover blocks for cooking applications. Conclusion From Somerset origins to Cornish production, from Dairy Crest development to Saputo ownership, Cathedral City has earned its position as Britain's best-selling cheddar. Market leadership spanning decades reflects consistent quality delivery meeting consumer expectations. Whether choosing Mature for everyday enjoyment, Extra Mature for stronger flavour, or speciality variants for specific requirements, Cathedral City provides trusted quality. The comprehensive range addresses multiple occasions from children's lunchboxes to sophisticated cheese boards. Compare Cathedral City prices across UK supermarkets through Grocefully and find the best deals on Britain's favourite cheddar.