Cheese Retailers April 2024

48 @specialityfood WE ALWAYS STRIVE TO LISTEN TO OUR CUSTOMERS, AS IT’S NOT ABOUTWHATWEWANT OR NEED – IT’S ABOUTWHAT THEYWANT AND NEED Steady steps are the name of the game for Cartmel Cheeses in 2024. The team plans to “look for new suppliers and producers,” says Steph. Perhaps most importantly, she and the team plan to “take each day as it comes.” PLANS FOR THE FUTURE Revisited For Lake District-based Cartmel Cheeses, 2023 brought some stability – particularly welcome after the shared rollercoaster ride of Covid-19. “The shop is showing a regular footfall and the website is going from strength to strength,” begins Steph Robinson, daugher of Ian Robinson who founded the business in 2011 with cheesemaker Martin Gott of St James Cheese. Steph is humble when it comes to her proudest achievement from the past 12 months: “making it through another year!” The cost-of-living crisis is taking its toll on both suppliers and customers, with the former bringing price increases and customers beingmore careful than before with themoney they spend in the shop. Amajor challenge, which is sure to be felt across the independent cheese retail stable, is the change in the law on using a knife to sample cheeses. “The EHO recently came for a visit and explained we can no longer sample cheeses to customers via a knife,” explains Steph. “The only way it can be done is little cubes with cocktail sticks.” Unfortunately, for many cheeses (especially soft) this is not suitable or practical – and the size of a retailer’s cheese arsenal plays a part too. “With such a big range of cheese, unfortunately we cannot do this. Some Cartmel Cheeses customers are fine with this and are happy to buy and try new cheeses, but some are not.” Reassuringly, the Cartmel Cheeses team are determined to do what independent retailers do best and respond to the desires and hungers of their loyal audience. “Always listen to your customers,” Steph advises. “We always strive to listen to our customers, as it’s not about what we want or need – it’s about what they want and need.” The relationships those in-house have with the producers who supply their cheese is of high value, too. By dealing with cheesemakers directly and taking pride in the cheeses they stock – taking the very best care of themwhilemaking sure that the hard work that goes into their production is appreciated and rewarded – Cartmel Cheeses is undoubtedly a destination for cheese-loving consumers from far and wide.