Wyke Farms, one of the UK’s largest independent cheese producers and milk processors, has been selected as National Champion for the United Kingdom in the 2015/16 European Business Awards in the category for Environmental & Corporate Sustainability.

The European Business Awards is now in its ninth year and its primary purpose is to support the development of a stronger and more successful business community throughout Europe. This year it attracted over 32,000 businesses in 33 countries to the competition and in the public vote generated over 170,000 votes from across Europe.

Wyke Farms won the award for its integrated green approach encompassing renewable energy, water recovery, green farming and transport. This forms part of the companies ‘100 per cent green’ sustainability plan, through which, they have dramatically reduced their carbon footprint and become the first national cheddar brand to be 100 per cent self-sufficient using their own energy generated from solar and biogas.

As a National Champion, Wyke Farms will go on to complete in the next phase of the competition resulting in successful organisations being shortlisted as one of ten Ruban d’Honneur recipients in the Award for Environmental & Corporate Sustainability. Wyke Farms will submit a video for assessment by the judging panel and take part in a public vote.

Wyke Farms has been producing its award-winning cheddar for over a century and has grown to become one of the largest family-owned cheese makers in Britain selling over 13,000 tonnes annually.

Wyke Farms have 150 years of family farming experience. Wyke Farms’ cheese and butter is made with the milk from their cows grazing the lush pastures of the Mendip Hills in the centre of the Cheddar making region in Somerset.

The Wyke Farms products are available nationwide and can be found in Asda, Co-op, Makro, Sainsbury’s Tesco and Waitrose.