Crowdfunder to ''Save Northamptonshire Cheese' raises £6,000 in just one day

The creators of Northamptonshire's-own Cobblers Nibble cheddar are asking for their customers' help to ensure cheese making in the county has a future.

This time last year, the spike in sales at Christmas time meant business was booming for Gary and Rachael at Hamm Tun Fine Foods - the masterminds behind Northamptonshire's first and best-loved cheese, Cobblers Nibble.

But now, after a stressful year for so many businesses and with the chance of normal life resuming this summer, the couple from Long Buckby is asking for their county's help to get through the next six months so they can come back with a bang.

Hamm Tun Fine has launched a Crowdfunder page with a goal of £40,000 to help them pay the bills while they get to work cooking up new batches of their award-winning Cobblers Nibble cheddar - which takes five months to make.

Gary told the Chronicle & Echo: "Earlier this week I realised I had to make a decision: move out of our premises and not make cheese again - or do something about it and carry on.

"I've poured everything into this business in the last seven years and I don't want to just walk away."

The decision comes after a hard year for Hamm Tun Fine Foods. Normally, they make up to five tonnes of cheese a year to supply food shows, hotels and even Northamptonshire's Silverstone races.

But with all of that cancelled by the pandemic, Gary and Rachael had to take a huge hit in costs - and even had to stop making their famous Cobblers Nibble because there was no guarantee they could sell it.

Gary said: "We had just moved into a new premises at the beginning of the year, which is a costly thing to do.

"We did the calculations and it looked like it was going to be a great year to recoup our costs.

"I didn't really want to get to the point I made a fundraising page. But it's almost like it's the last chance and I love making cheese."

But Gary says he could never have expected the response from his fans - because in just 24 hours, the Hamm Tun Fine Crowdfunder page has raised more than £6,000 towards saving Northamptonshire cheese.More than 200 supporters so far have pitched in to help the couple from Long Buckby carry on making cheese come the new year.

The Crowdfunder system also means donors will be rewarded with gifts when the goal is met - including cheese selection boxes, t-shirts and tote bags.

Gary said: "I'll have a lot of people to say thank you to when it's over. I'm absolutely amazed.

"The money will allow us to continue making cheese for the next year, assuming things pick up again - and it will mean we can start making Cobblers Nibble again for 2021.

"Hopefully in the future we will still be here and will still be making cheese in Northamptonshire.

"The shop in Long Buckby is still open and we've ot a website with click and collect for our other goods, and we deliver locally."

For more information, visit the Hamm Tun Fine Foods Crowdfunder page.