Butlers Farmhouse Cheeses has expanded its Parlick sheep’s cheese range with a new Parlick Reserve variant, launching at M&S Food nationally on 23 June.
The Lancashire-based cheesemaker’s NPD is described as a rich, creamy sheep’s milk cheese that is matured for six months (rsp: £4.50/150g).
It takes its name from Lancashire’s Parlick Fell, located just five miles from Butlers’ rural dairy. The cheese joins Parlick Original, which is stocked at Sainsburys, Tesco and Morrisons stores across the UK. Parlick Brie is stocked in Waitrose.
“Parlick Reserve is a natural next step for our Parlick range and really appeals to the M&S shopper, particularly with growing consumer demand for sheep’s milk cheese,” said Butlers’ fourth-generation owner Matthew Hall.
“We love seeing partners like M&S embrace the breadth and quality of British cheeses, as well as the opportunity to breathe life into the fixture, driving shopper exploration and giving speciality cheeses like Parlick the prominence they deserve.”
As consumers have become more aware of cheese’s natural credentials like healthy fats, minimal processing and few ingredients, many are turning to sheep’s milk cheese as a nutrient-dense, high-protein, high-calcium option that offers both health benefits and a little indulgence, the supplier said.
“We have seen growing interest in our alternative milk cheese like Kidderton Ash goat’s cheese and also Parlick with its clean, fresh, nutty-sweet flavour,” Hall added. “Their versatility means they are becoming more everyday choices in the way cheddar has been historically.”
The sheep’s milk market overall has contracted over the past two years due to a combination of general uncertainty and farmers exiting the sector, Hall explained. “So we aim to bring stability through our retail partnerships, which, over the coming year, will see a 20% growth in the UK sheep’s milk industry.”
Butlers acquired the Parlick brand in 2022 – after previous owner Singleton’s ceased trading. It is now the UK’s largest producer of sheep’s milk cheese.
The cheesemaker’s third-generation owner Gillian Hall this week met King Charles in Lancashire, who “shared his love of sheep’s cheese on a digestive biscuit”.
If you’ve got a fantastic new product or packaging innovation, we want to hear about it! The Grocer New Product & Packaging Awards 2025 deadline has been extended! You now have until Monday 23 June to submit your entries. Visit this link to enter, buy tickets or enquire about sponsorship opportunities.
No comments yet