Russell Haggata Morrisons

A Morrisons cheesemonger has been inducted into the Guilde Internationale Des Fromagers, one of the highest accolades in the cheese world.

Russell Haggata, chief cheese taster at the retailer, is one of just a handful of individuals from across the UK to be welcomed into the prestigious group of cheese experts, who have been promoting knowledge and expertise in cheesemaking for over a century.

It features members from 33 countries and recently celebrated its 150th anniversary.

Haggata tastes more than 1,800 cheeses a year and was approved after the supermarket picked up 22 Gold medals and won Cheddar Cheese Retailer of the Year at the world’s largest cheese show, the International Cheese Awards in Nantwich. All 22 cheeses were hand-selected by Haggata.

“I have dedicated most of my life to cheese and I am humbled to be given this induction into the guild,” he said. “I am so proud to represent Britain on the world’s cheesemaking stage and help promote the phenomenal range of cheeses our country now makes.”

Haggata studied cheese at college for three years and became an expert in the science of its four main ingredients of milk, cultures, coagulant and salt. He has recently been tasked with discovering the best local British cheese as Morrisons commits to stocking more from smaller producers throughout the country.