cheesegeek’s GENESIS Range Wins Multiple Great Taste Awards in Debut Year

cheesegeek, the innovative online artisanal cheese retailer founded in 2017, is celebrating exceptional recognition for its exclusive GENESIS cheese collection after securing four stars at the prestigious Great Taste Awards in the range’s inaugural year.

The GENESIS collection, meticulously developed to showcase modern interpretations of classic cheese styles crafted by Britain’s finest artisanal cheesemakers, received multiple accolades across its signature varieties. Hendrix, a distinctive British semi-soft blue cheese, led the honours with an impressive two-star rating. Swift Reserve, a carefully aged 9-month gouda-style cheese, and Washington, an unforgettable cider-washed soft cheese, each received one star in their categories.

“Developing our own range of cheese was always a dream for us at cheesegeek,” said Edward Hancock, Founder and CEO. “Receiving the news that in their first year, they had picked up four Great Taste Stars had us walking in a cheese wonderland. It’s tremendous validation of our vision to create modern British cheeses that tell the story of the land where they’ve been crafted.”

Award-Winning Cheeses

The star of the GENESIS collection, Hendrix, impressed judges with its revolutionary approach to blue cheese. Unlike traditional firm blue varieties, Hendrix delivers a semi-soft, forgiving, silky texture that melts in the mouth – described by cheesegeek as “the blue cheese equivalent of eating a Galaxy chocolate bar.” This accessible yet complex 5-week aged creation from West Wales combines a balanced flavour profile with distinctive character, earning its two-star distinction.

Swift Reserve, produced in Bath using milk from Park Farm’s organic Holstein Friesian herd, represents what cheesegeek calls “the Goldilocks gouda” – aged precisely 9 months to achieve the perfect balance between supple butteriness and developed complexity. The judges appreciated its rich, nutty sweetness and distinctive buttery jacket potato skin notes, awarding it a well-deserved star.

Completing the award-winning trio, Washington showcases British cheesemaking innovation with its continental inspiration. This 8-week aged cider-washed soft cheese from West Wales develops from crisp, subtle fruitiness when young to deep, savoury, meaty characteristics when further ripened – a versatility that clearly impressed the Great Taste judges.

British Artisanal Excellence

The GENESIS range represents cheesegeek’s commitment to the future of British cheesemaking. Launched as a cornerstone of the company’s support for artisanal producers, each cheese in the collection features fully traceable, locally sourced milk with compelling provenance. The cheeses have been designed not only to excel individually but also to complement each other perfectly when served as a collection.

“These awards validate what we’ve always believed – that British cheese can stand alongside the world’s finest,” added Hancock. “Our GENESIS range embodies our philosophy that great cheese is more than food – it’s an experience that creates memories and connections.”

The Great Taste Awards, organized by the Guild of Fine Food, are widely considered the world’s most trusted food and drink accreditation scheme. Often described as the “Oscars” of the food world, the rigorous blind-tasting process involves expert judges including renowned food critics, chefs, restaurateurs, retailers, buyers, and food writers evaluating products solely on taste, texture, and appearance without knowledge of producer or packaging.

Innovation in Cheese Delivery

All award-winning cheeses are available to customers nationwide through cheesegeek’s innovative delivery system. The company pioneered the use of climate-controlled packaging – the only such system in the industry – that comes with a 48-hour freshness guarantee. Each delivery includes detailed information on the cheeses, tasting notes, and a scorecard to enhance the customer experience.

cheesegeek’s dedication to making artisanal cheese accessible extends to its proprietary CASSIE (Cheese Allocation System) technology, which manages orders, logs customer preferences, identifies seasonal availability, and curates personalized selections based on individual taste profiles.

Company Growth and Recognition

This latest achievement adds to a series of milestones for the company, which began in 2017 when Hancock left the fund management world to pursue his passion for cheese. Initially operating from his mother’s utility room, cheesegeek has grown significantly, securing investment from entrepreneur Steven Bartlett following a successful appearance on Dragons’ Den in 2022.

The company recently expanded its reach through a partnership with luxury retailer Selfridges, bringing its carefully curated selection of world-class cheeses to a wider audience. From humble beginnings dispatching 100 orders in its first Christmas season, cheesegeek now operates from a 7,000 square foot facility and employs a team of cheese experts dedicated to spreading cheese appreciation nationwide.

The award-winning GENESIS cheeses are available individually or as part of cheesegeek’s various gift boxes and subscription services, with free scheduled delivery on all orders over £25.

About Cheesegeek

Founded in 2017 by Edward Hancock, cheesegeek is revolutionising how people discover and enjoy artisanal cheese through its online platform, subscription services, and gift options. The company focuses on supporting British cheesemakers while making quality cheese more accessible to consumers nationwide through its innovative delivery system and the guidance of CASSIE, its proprietary Cheese Allocation System.

With a mission to take artisanal cheese mainstream while maintaining the highest standards of quality and provenance, cheesegeek received investment from Steven Bartlett following an appearance on Dragons’ Den and recently launched a partnership with Selfridges.