Cheese Buyer - May 2025

18 GODMINSTER Godminster is renowned for, whilst welcoming new budget-conscious customers into the fold. “We are conscious of where the market currently is economically, and we think creating a cheese that bridges the gap between high value artisanal cheeses andmore affordable everyday cheese is the right thing to do,” continues Jess. While themilk used in the production of the new cheeses is non-organic, this goes a long way to making themaccessible to a wider audience – allowing customers to bring good quality cheese into their day-to-daymenus without worrying about the cost. While there are countless Cheddars on themarket – indeed, there are five esteemed cheesemakers located within a tight radius of Godminster’s location – Jessica sees this as a boon rather than a threat. “All of our cheesemaking neighbours do things differently and create signature products, and we are honoured to be a part of that tradition. We’re approachable and a little bit funky, and with these new launches we hope to invite a wider group of consumers to experience and enjoy great cheese every day.” An exciting opportunity for cheese sellers Not only areMiddlewickWitch and Scarlet Crumb set to be repeat purchases, they provide a unique commitment to sustainability that went into their production. Future-proofing “We’re working towardsmaking Godminster as green and eco- friendly as possible,” explains Jessica. The flow-wrap format of the brand’s new cheeses is a case in point – another step in the brand’s journey towards sustainability – withwork ongoing to ensure that it’s as sustainable as can be, plus everything that goes into the brand’s cheeses is always consciously sourced. Sustainably-minded food products often come with a premiumprice, but that’s not the case withMiddlewickWitch and Scarlet Crumb; indeed, fromday one of their inception the name of the game was to create high quality cheeses which provided the superior taste and quality that S omerset-based Godminster, beloved up and down the UK – and beyond – for its carefully curated range of deliciouslymoreish cheeses, is proud to introduce two new creations to the family: Middlewick Witch and Scarlet Crumb, a mature Cheddar and Red Leicester, respectively. “They are cousins to the existing range, so very quirky – as you’d expect fromGodminster,” begins Jessica Kimber-Holloway, commercial and operations director. Quirky is indeed the wordmany would use to describe the characters of these cheeses, inspired by hunky punks – gargoyle-like figures which are a traditional sight on West Country churches, and the new launches are sure to be fan favourites thanks to their new-to- the-brand format and approachable flavours – not to mention the chance for independents to expand their customer base –without sacrificing the famous Godminster touch. “We’re working hard to make these new cheeses stand-out products that are fun for farmshops and delis to stock,” says Jessica. “They look and taste different to other options in the cheese counter, and we’re excited to be adding this new string to our bow and the counters of Cheese Buyer readers.” An appetite for innovation Followers of Godminster, from newsletter subscribers to social media audiences, were surveyed to find out exactly what they were hungry for, and Red Leicester and a quality, affordable Cheddar came out top. “We’re not in it for the one-hit wonders,” says Jessica, “these are a carefully considered addition to our range that will stand the test of time. We are confident that it is right for us and our customers.” Both new cheeses debuted at FarmShop & Deli to rapturous feedback, with loyal customers excited to experience the team’s delicious new innovations. “We’ve become known for our Cheddars, but we’ve experimented in the past – for example with our Brie – and we’re proud to say that we dedicate a lot of time and effort tomaking sure that everything we do stands up to the high expectations our audience has of our range. Every item in the Godminster range has been very thoroughly considered, and retailers can be confident that the new launches were verymuch driven by customer demand.” With sales of MiddlewickWitch and Scarlet Crumb set to reach heady heights amongst Godminster’s loyal fans – new and old – this is, no doubt, an exciting proposition for the independent retail sector. Every item in the Godminster range has been very thoroughly considered, and retailers can be confident that the new launches were very much driven by customer demand @specialityfood CHEESE FOR ALL Godminster’s new cheeses are not only delicious, but they open the door to a raft of potential new customers too