CURD TO COUNTER 2025
A MENTORSHIP PROGRAMME BY CHEESE JOURNEYS
CURD TO COUNTER 2025
Applications are now open for CURD TO COUNTER! This unique mentorship programme, now in its second year, is devised and delivered by Cheese Journeys in collaboration with British cheesemakers and supported by Neal’s Yard Dairy. The programme connects international cheese retail professionals with Britain’s finest makers and will run from 8–11 October 2025.
About
CURD TO COUNTER is designed exclusively for international cheese retail professionals and gives participants the opportunity to meet and receive mentorship from Britain’s most renowned cheesemakers. The programme begins with participants embarking on a day of retail cheesemongering at Neal’s Yard Dairy and will be followed by a three-day dairy farm visit. Cheese retail professionals successfully on-boarded following the application process will be mentored and fully immersed into the worlds of the cheesemakers, invited to expand their knowledge on every aspect of production from its history through to herd, cheesemaking and maturing processes, agriculture sustainability, and future-proofing. Plus, direct training from British cheesemongers in the art of selling and carrying British cheese.
CURD TO COUNTER runs from 8 - 11 October 2025 ahead of our British Cheese Odyssey from 12 - 19 October 2025. The ticket cost for the tour includes the mentorship programme.
British Cheesemakers Taking Part
We’re proud to have partnered with the following British Cheesemakers in 2025:
• Sara and Paul Appleby of Appleby’s Dairy
• Jonny and Dulcie Crickmore of Fen Farm Dairy
• Jamie Montgomery of Montgomery’s Cheese
• Joe Schneider of Stichelton Dairy
• Ben Ticehurst, Head Cheesemaker at Trethowan Brothers
• Tom Calver of Westcombe Dairy
How Do I Apply?
If you’re a cheese retail professional currently working in the industry and involved in selling British artisan cheese, we’d love to hear from you. All you need to do in order to apply is:
Send us your résumé (this should clearly outline your cheese retail experience).
Send us a one-page proposal on how learnings from the CURD TO COUNTER programme will be shared and utilized across the businesses you’re representing. It is key to be able to outline how newfound knowledge of the art and science of British cheesemaking can be applied to introducing these artisan cheese products from the UK to your market.
A letter of recommendation from a leader and/or someone who the applicant reports to currently at their place of work.
Simply send these three documents to Anna Juhl, Cheese Journeys Founder and CEO, via email at anna@cheesejourneys.com with ‘CURD TO COUNTER Application’ in the subject line.
Application Deadline
Applications are now open and candidates have until 31 July to submit the three documents outlined above.
What Happens Next?
Upon receipt of your application, we will make contact with you to schedule an initial phone interview. A detailed itinerary for the programme will be provided during application process.
What’s Included?
The mentorship programme starts with a full day at Neal’s Yard Dairy with a group of its esteemed cheesemongers and export team at the company’s Borough Market retail location. Then, across the following days participants will embark on a dairy/ farm visit with a British cheesemaker and mentor, and Cheese Journeys will cover the cost of transportation and accommodation to and while staying with cheesemakers - where their host will cover food and drink.
It’s important to note that CURD TO COUNTER runs ahead of our signature British Cheese Odyssey across London, Somerset and Bath - so selected cheese professionals will embark on this journey immediately after taking part in the programme.
The full UK tour ticket cost for cheese retail professionals chosen to take part is therefore inclusive of the mentorship programme, so this is a unique opportunity to up-skill through first-hand mentorship, build expertise on the art and science of cheesemaking and delight in endless culinary experiences.
Discover the full itinerary for this year’s British Cheese Odyssey, 12 - 19 October here.
What’s The Cost?
UK tour and mentorship programme tickets (combined) are $6,200 per person for double occupancy bookings and $6,900 per person for single occupancy bookings. These prices include both the three-day mentorship programme and seven-day tour of British Cheese Odyssey. Airfare is not included.
Contact
Want more information? Get in touch with Cheese Journeys Founder, Anna Juhl, via email if you have any questions about the mentorship, application process, costs or how CURD TO COUNTER bolts onto the UK tour.
Photography by Winter Caplanson
and Neal’s Yard Dairy