Our family business roots run deep in rural Lancashire. Since 1932 we have been making British farmhouse cheese and working closely with our farmers, suppliers, team and local community.
That is why we were so pleased to be invited by MP Maya Ellis to take part in a short film produced by the Labour Rural Research Group (LRRG) in partnership with RABI, the farmers' charity, which was screened at the Labour Party Conference last month.
The video aimed to bring together voices from across the rural business community to highlight the challenges they face and ensure their experiences and day-to-day realities are heard by those shaping government policy.
In the film, Matthew shares how British farming and food production do far more than put food on our tables - they support jobs, supplier businesses and create value that is then reinvested in rural communities. He also highlights the importance of helping businesses maintain strong relationships between farmers, producers and retailers in order to build a resilient British food supply chain.
Long-term thinking is a central theme of the video. For rural family businesses like ours, investment decisions are made not for the next 12 months, but for the next 100 years. Matthew shares his belief that this long-term perspective needs to be recognised when policies are developed, giving businesses the confidence to invest in their future.
There is no better example of that commitment to the long-term than our decision to rebuild following our fire in 2023. Officially opened by His Majesty The King earlier this year, our Cheese Campus represents a significant investment in the future of our business and in British farmhouse cheesemaking.
For rural businesses to continue investing, growing and supporting our communities and the wider UK economy, the right foundations must be in place. From reliable infrastructure and connectivity to a stable policy environment, businesses like ours need the confidence to plan and invest for the long term.
We are proud to play our part in Lancashire's rural economy and to contribute to the conversation about the future of British farming and food production with government decisionmakers. You can watch the video here.
