At a glance
Wales's most awarded cheese maker — the Black Bomber extra mature cheddar and a range of wax-wrapped truckle cheddars produced in Ruthin, Denbighshire. Cheese shop open to visitors. Widely available in delis and supermarkets across the UK. LL15 1SL.
About Snowdonia Cheese Company
The Snowdonia Cheese Company began in 2001 with a simple idea: to make an exceptional Welsh cheddar and market it in a way that clearly distinguished it from the commodity cheese filling supermarket shelves. The solution was distinctive coloured wax wrapping and ambitious names — Black Bomber, Red Storm, Golden Mist — that would stand out on a deli counter. The Black Bomber extra mature cheddar, in its black wax coat, became the flagship: a strong, complex, smooth cheese that has since won more awards than any other Welsh cheddar, including multiple golds at the World Cheese Awards.
The company is based in Ruthin, a market town in the Vale of Clwyd in Denbighshire — not, geographically, in Snowdonia itself, but in the hill country that forms the eastern edge of the Welsh uplands. The range has expanded to include smoked cheddars, flavoured cheddars (including the popular Pickle Power with Branston pickle), and seasonal limited editions. All share the quality of the original Black Bomber and the wax-wrapped aesthetic that has become instantly recognisable.
Snowdonia Cheese products are sold in delis, farm shops, and supermarkets across Britain and are a reliable find in specialist food shops throughout North Wales. The Bodnant Welsh Food Centre in the Conwy Valley typically stocks the full range. The company's visitor presence in Ruthin makes it worth combining with a visit to Ruthin Gaol or the surrounding Clwydian Range.
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Frequently asked questions
The Black Bomber is Snowdonia Cheese Company's flagship product — an extra mature cheddar wrapped in distinctive black wax, with a strong, complex flavour and smooth texture. It has won numerous gold awards at the World Cheese Awards and the British Cheese Awards, making it one of the most decorated cheddars in the country. The black wax packaging, now iconic on deli counters across Britain, was introduced as a way of distinguishing the premium product in a market dominated by conventional wrapped blocks. The name references the dark wax wrapping rather than anything sinister.
Beyond the Black Bomber, Snowdonia produces a range of distinctively named and wax-wrapped truckle cheddars: the Red Storm (mature red cheddar), the Pickle Power (mature cheddar with Branston pickle), the Beechwood (smoked cheddar), the Golden Mist (smoked with a golden wax), and a number of seasonal and limited editions. All are made to the same high standard as the Black Bomber and all use the distinctive coloured wax wrapping that has become the brand's hallmark. The range is available in supermarkets, delis, and specialist food shops across the UK.
The Snowdonia Cheese Company has a visitor presence at Ruthin — a shop where the full range of cheeses and merchandise is available, and where tastings are sometimes offered. As a working production facility, full factory tours may not always be available, but the shop is open to visitors. Check snowdoniacheese.co.uk for current opening arrangements before visiting, as hours can vary.
Ruthin is a pleasant small market town in the Vale of Clwyd, with a medieval street plan, a market square, and some fine half-timbered buildings. Ruthin Gaol — a Victorian prison of 1775 in remarkable condition — is in the town centre and is one of the better small heritage attractions in north-east Wales. The Clwydian Range, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with excellent walking on Offa's Dyke Path, begins a few miles west. Denbigh Castle (5 miles north) and St Asaph Cathedral (8 miles north) are both within easy reach.
Snowdonia Cheese Company products are widely available across North Wales and beyond. Specialist food shops, delis, and farm shops throughout the region stock the range, including the Bodnant Welsh Food Centre in the Conwy Valley. Many supermarkets also carry the Black Bomber and Red Storm in their Welsh and artisan cheese sections. The best selection and prices are at the company's own shop in Ruthin.