AN Eden-based artisan cheese maker has secured a £250,000 loan to carry out alterations to a newly-acquired industrial unit to create a state-of-the-art production facility.

Appleby Creamery plans to move into new international markets, including China and the USA, with the cash it has received from the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund (NPIF) from the larger premises. The loan will also provide the growth capital needed to help the expanding business meet the surge in demand forecast after winning a number of significant new contracts in the UK and overseas.

Founded in 2008, Appleby Creamery specialises in making high quality, premium food and drink brands and making them available to a wider audience.

The creamery currently employs nine staff and has annual sales of over £500,000 and this is expected to increase as a result of the new funding package.

The business is operated by four experienced businessmen with complimentary farming and food sector backgrounds. They are Stuart MacLennan, who brings 25 years’ experience from the agri/dood industry, fourth-generation dairy farmer Mark Callander, Maurice Walton, original founder of the creamery, who brings 30 years’ experience in the dairy/food hygiene sector and Pete Crouch, who has 30 years sales and marketing experience.

In ten years the creamery has become established as a specialist artisan soft cheese producer with multiple awards under its belt. In 2015, the creamery was acquired by the Cows & Co Group, which operates other businesses operating in the food, drink and sustainable energy sectors.

As part of Cows and Co Group, the business now has the significant advantage of a single farm premium milk supply, which contributes to the consistent quality of the cheese and the provenance.

The deal marks NPIF’s first large debt investment from FW Capital, a fund management company currently managing UK-based funds over £191m, to back a Cumbrian business.

Creamery managing director Maurice Walton said: “As a growing business we’re faced with the challenges of accessing finance and NPIF has provided us with a platform to make the most of the market opportunities.

“Our strategy is to focus on domestic growth, while exploring opportunities to trade overseas. We are already seeing increased interest from customers in Asia and have started the process of licensing our products for sale in the Chinese market, so it’s an exciting time for us.”