Northamptonshire Cheese will survive 2020 after customers raise £12,000 to see them through next few months

"I never expected such a response... I want to thank everybody who helped us by contributing and sharing the fundraiser"
Rachael and Gary Bradshaw say they will be able to make cheese into 2021 after raising £12,000 in a crowdfunding campaign.Rachael and Gary Bradshaw say they will be able to make cheese into 2021 after raising £12,000 in a crowdfunding campaign.
Rachael and Gary Bradshaw say they will be able to make cheese into 2021 after raising £12,000 in a crowdfunding campaign.

The creators of Northamptonshire's-own Cobblers Nibble cheddar are thanking all their customers after raising £12,000 to keep them afloat into 2021.

Last month, Gary and Rachael Bradshaw of Hamm Tun Fine Foods asked for their county's help to see out a year that saw them lose thousands of pounds of trade to the lockdown.

With the chance of normal life resuming this summer, the couple from Long Buckby launched a crowdfunder to get through the first months of the new year so they could come back with a bang.

Now, after six weeks of fundraising, Gary and Rachael are ready to say Northamptonshire cheese will survive this year, after raising over £12,000 in just four weeks to keep their dream alive.Gary told the Chronicle and Echo: "With a lockdown, there's enough to keep us going for another four months, and fingers crossed by then events will start again in the summer.

"It has allowed us to continue making cheese. Starting January 18 we will start production again and we won't stop until summer."

Hamm Tun Fine used fundraising page Crowdfunder to reach out to customers and offer rewards like cheese boxes and tshirts for their support.

But within 24 hours of launching the page on November 24, Gary and Rachael had raised £6,000 from wellwishers who wanted a future for Northamptonshire cheese.

"I want to thank everybody who helped us by contributing and sharing the fundraiser," said Gary. "Every little bit helps.

"I never expected such a response. We were getting donations from people in Scotland who didn't even select a reward.

"It's been quite emotional reading all the emails and messages of support."

Hamm Tun Fine's famous cheeses include their award-winning Cobblers Nibble cheddar, Northamptonshire Blue and county favourite Little Bertie.

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

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