A Cheshire cheesemaker has been sold by a businessman who Boris Johnson called 'that bloody cheese man' when he was Prime Minister.
The Cheshire Cheese Company (CCC) has been acquired by Nantwich-based family-owned cheese producer Joseph Heler for an undisclosed sum.
The Macclesfield-based company was established in 2010 while co-founder Simon Spurrell will retain an equitable stake in the business and remain as managing director.
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The deal comes after Mr Spurrell warned that the government’s failure to negotiate a health certificate hit his business overnight as soon as the UK withdrew from the EU. He has previously said Brexit directly cost his company £250,000.
Speaking to CheshireLive in August, he added that it had become impossible for the company to sell its cheeses on a business to consumer basis online to its EU customers.
Joseph Heler has operations across central Europe, which it said will re-open markets to CCC that Brexit made "unviable".
Despite the Brexit hit, CCC's new owner said the company had seen a 400% growth in its revenue since 2019.
All of its head office, production and warehouse staff will be retained while 14 additional full and part-time jobs will be created.
George Heler, group managing director of Joseph Heler, said: "We’re delighted to welcome the Cheshire Cheese Company to the Heler Group.
"It has a fantastic product and has worked hard to grow a loyal following across the UK.
"Cheshire Cheese Company’s wealth of experience and expertise will provide plentiful synergies which is very exciting.
"Together, we’re confident we can extend its reach across the UK and Europe."
Mr Spurrell added: "This strategic alliance has come at a very important time for the business. post-Brexit legislation meant our plans to operate in mainland Europe were halted - this arrangement will see us able to grow with increased production and fulfilment capacity and a worldwide reach."
Speaking to CheshireLive in August, Mr Spurrell said: "In 2020, I told the government they had not come up with an agreement not in any shape or form.
"There was no allowance for the consumers of these countries to actually buy cheese from the United Kingdom any longer.
"You can't buy cheese in the EU without a health certificate. The health certificates are £180 and have to be signed off by a Veterinary surgeon.
"That’s regardless if it’s one block of cheese or one tonne. It takes about four hours to complete the paperwork for the health certificate.
"Our consumer market was destroyed overnight as we used to sell to Italy, France and Germany in particular. That went completely, with 60 parcels returned in January of the first week.
"The government could not tell us why parcels were returned. DHL/DPD couriers have no idea because they said it must be teething problems.
"I appeared many times on German national TV and was told by several politicians that Boris Johnson referred to me as 'That Bloody Cheese Man'. If nothing else in life, I've achieved annoying him - so I am very proud of that one."
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