BUTE Island Foods has won a contract with Asda to supply two new vegan cheeses to more than 130 of the supermarket group’s stores around the UK.

The family-run business, which employs around 125 people, will create a further four jobs on Bute on the back of the latest supply deal.

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The cheeses, Asda ‘Free From’ blue alternative and Asda ‘Free From’ double Gloucester alternative with onion and chives, bring to eight the number of the supermarket group’s own-brand dairy-free cheese alternative products made by Bute Island Foods.

The supermarket group said the two new lines would be available in more than 132 stores across the UK. It noted the Bute business had supplied all of Asda’s dairy-free cheese since January 2018.

Francois Lintermans, director and head of new product development at the Bute business, said: “Bute Island Foods is a family-run business, dedicated to producing a wide range of vegan and free-from cheese alternatives since 1994.”

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He added: “We’re thrilled to continue our relationship with Asda by introducing two new vegan cheese products to its dairy-free range.

“The company has rapidly expanded over the past year to meet the increase in demand for our products, due to consumer awareness of the benefits of eating a plant-based diet – whether for health, ethical or environmental reasons.”

Mr Lintermans flagged the popularity of blue cheese for cheeseboards, sandwiches and fondue.

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Yvonne McArthur, of Asda, said: “Working closely with the team at Bute island we’re very proud to be the first retailer to offer a free-from double Gloucester to our customers across the UK.”