Pilgrims Choice
Also known as: Pilgrim's Choice
Pilgrims Choice is a British cheddar brand owned by the Irish co-operative Ornua; the cheese is cut and packed in Leek, Staffordshire.
Pilgrims Choice is a British cheddar brand owned by Ornua Co-operative Limited, the Irish dairy co-operative that also owns Kerrygold. In the UK the brand is run by Ornua Foods UK.
According to Ornua, in 1997 the Irish Dairy Board, Ornua's predecessor, added Pilgrims Choice to its brand portfolio by acquiring North Downs Dairy. Ornua calls its site in Leek, Staffordshire, home to Pilgrims Choice: cheese is cut, grated and packed there. In November 2020 Ornua Foods UK announced a £3 million investment in cutting and packing equipment at Leek, bringing total annual production to over 110,000 tonnes.
The range is almost entirely cheddar. Pilgrims Choice Cheddar is sold as Mild, Mature, Extra Mature and Vintage, and Extra Mature also comes grated and sliced. Pilgrims Choice Lighter offers Mature and Extra Mature with 30% less fat. There are also flavoured cheese slices (garlic and chive, mixed peppercorn, caramelised onion) and Little Snack Pots, including cheddar and Red Leicester varieties.
According to the brand, the crunch in its Extra Mature cheddar comes from calcium lactate crystals formed as the cheese ages.
Facts
| Country | United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Region | Leek, Staffordshire (packing) |
How it connects to Cheese
Pilgrims Choice → kind of → 🏭 Cheese producers and brands → kind of → 🧀 Cheese
Links
Frequently asked questions
Is it true that Pilgrims Choice is an Irish brand?
Not quite. It is a British cheddar brand, though its owner is the Irish dairy co-operative Ornua.
Where is Pilgrims Choice packed?
At the Staffordshire site, where the cheese is cut, grated and packed.
Which cheeses does Pilgrims Choice make?
Almost entirely cheddar in four ages, plus lighter versions, flavoured slices and snack pots.
Why does Pilgrims Choice cheddar have white crystals?
Calcium lactate crystals, which the brand says form as the cheese ages.
Similar
🧀 Shostka · 🧀 Pyriatyn · 🧀 Cambozola · Saint Agur · Saint Albray · Babybel
What it includes
Sources
- Pilgrims Choice — The Range
- Ornua — History
- Ornua — Ornua Foods UK announces £3 million investment at Leek cheese packing facility