The investment in the new maturation store follows recent significant new business wins for the firm to supply additional volumes of Blue Stilton to both Sainsbury's and Marks and Spencer.

Tuxford and Tebbutt's general manager Richard Newell said: "The site expansion and new business wins are fantastic news for Tuxford and Tebbutt and the local area. It demonstrates the confidence our customers have in our ability to supply finest quality Blue Stilton all year round. Opportunities now exist for recruitment as the business expands and this can only be good for the local community.

"The site has produced consistent top quality Blue Stilton for some years and I am delighted the hard work and commitment shown by the staff along with the support from Milk Link has paid off."

Established in 1782 and currently employing more than 90 staff, Tuxford and Tebbutt still uses traditional cheesemaking skills and is one of only seven creameries in the world able to produce Blue Stilton.

The award-winning Stiltons are hand made by experienced cheese makers using traditional methods and milk sourced only from the counties of Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire. The cheeses are matured individually and turned and graded by hand as has been the case for many generations.

In addition to the traditional methods, continuous monitoring and measuring is carried out to ensure the Blue Stilton produced at Tuxford and Tebbutt meets the highest quality and taste standards.