AN INDEPENDENT cheese maker who uses traditional recipes and techniques has won a contract to supply a large supermarket chain.

Laceys Cheese, which is based at The Station, Richmond, was founded two years ago by Simon Lacey, a chef with 20 years’ experience.

His range of handmade cheeses is sold at small delicatessens and farmers’ markets across the region, but, following an approach from supermarket giant Asda, three of his cheeses are to be sold in 27 of the chain’s Yorkshire stores.

The cheeses include his two best sellers – a traditional cheese and an oak-smoked cheese – and a new recipe involving fresh chilli.

Mr Lacey has spent several days dipping more than 4,000 cheeses into wax casings by hand, ready to hit the stores on Monday.

He said: “I can laugh about it now, but in the middle of preparing all of that cheese I just wanted to cry.

“Small producers often attack supermarkets, but Asda has given us a lot of control over what we produce and wants to support us and the local farmers, so it’s great for the community.”

Mr Lacey employs two staff but hopes to take on another and an apprentice.

If Asda is a success, Mr Lacey plans to open another delicatessen in another market town near Richmond and create further jobs for local people.