Founded in the southwest of England, Dorset Cereals has become an internationally recognised, award-winning brand and it’s also available for breakfast at Summer Lodge Country House Hotel & Restaurant. Based just 20 minutes away from the hotel, Dorset Cereals is committed to creating delicious cereals while also caring for the planet. Here, Senior Brand Manager Elliot Harris talks to us about Dorset Cereal’s local roots and ethical ethos.

How did Dorset Cereals come about?

'Believe it or not, Dorset Cereals was founded thanks to a conversation between friends in a pub back in 1989. They saw the sign ‘We like dogs and muddy boots’ which then came to form the basis of Dorset Cereals; simple pleasures and little moments, and it all took off from there! Our love for the simple things in life continues to be incredibly important to us to this day.'

What is your most popular product?

'Our best-selling recipe is Simply Nutty Muesli. Made with almonds, roasted hazelnuts and Brazil nuts – people just seem to go nuts about nuts!'

What local Dorset produce do you use in your cereals?

'We use such a variety of delicious ingredients in our cereals and always go for the finest pick of the crop. This means sourcing ingredients globally, from the places they grow best. Many of our grains, like oats and wheat, come from around the UK, and although we don’t have ingredients from Dorset, they’re all expertly blended here.

What has been your biggest achievement to date?

'We’re particularly delighted with our growth worldwide. Dorset Cereals can now be found in almost 50 countries around the globe, as far-flung as Australia and New Zealand – a little piece of Dorset for everyone!'

Can you tell us a bit about your work with The Woodland Trust?

'The Woodland Trust is the UK’s largest woodland conservation charity. They’re on a mission to protect and restore Britain’s ancient forests, looking after wildlife and creating a greener nation that can be enjoyed by generations to come. We’re very proud to support The Woodland Trust on their quest to preserve green space, and to date we’ve given them the tools to plant over 34,000 trees across the UK. We’ve even got our hands dirty and planted 1,000 trees right down the road from us, in Poundbury.'

Are there any other sustainability projects that you’re involved in?

'We use nuts in so many of our recipes, so we put extra focus on how they’re sourced. We’ve recently joined a public-private partnership, helping to improve the lives of families in hazelnut supply. This is a partnership between businesses, the Turkish government and the ILO (International Labour Organization) to enhance welfare for those involved.'

What Dorset landmarks do you recommend to visitors?

'There are just so many to choose from! We’d probably go for the Jurassic Coast, which is a World Heritage Site. There are many amazing places along the coastline, in particular, Golden Cap, which is the highest point on the south coast and the views are absolutely stunning. And of course, there’s also Durdle Door, which is a must for every visitor!'

Meet our muesli suppliers: Dorset Cereals