CHEESE exporter Somerdale International, based at Chelston, is set to boost the profile of British products in the Middle East.

Somerdale is attending Gulfood, the world’s largest annual food and beverages trade show, attended by 98,000 visitors and 5,000 exhibitors, at the Dubai World Trade Centre from Sunday to Thursday.

The company exports cheese to more than 50 countries around the world, and its sales to the Middle East are now worth £2 million a year.

It will be exhibiting its range of Westminster Cheddars in Dubai. The Westminster brand is already well known in Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Iraq and Egypt.

But Somerdale believes the brand has further potential in the existing markets and other countries in the Middle East.

Somerdale will also showcase high quality British territorial cheeses, Blue Stilton, a wide range of Somerdale-developed speciality cheeses such as Cheddar with Cracked Black Pepper, Cheddar with Chilli and Lime, and waxed Cheddars from Abergavenny Fine Foods.

Company director Ernie Waldron said: “We have seen considerable growth in the Middle East over the last five years and there is definitely an increasing appetite for our high quality British Cheddar which combines both great taste and demonstrable provenance.

“Our Westminster brand of Cheddar is already well-established in the region with a growing portfolio of retail and foodservice customers but we believe there is potential to build sales further and expand not only the range of cheese we sell but also develop our presence in other Middle East states.”