Speciality Food Inspirational Cheese Retailers 2025

community,” Lee says of his vision for the business. “I just felt like I had to provide cheeses for this community, who hadn’t really had access to speciality cheeses before. I could get people here eatingmore cheese, discovering and learning about different cheeses and gaining more knowledge, rather than going to a supermarket to buy something more generic. It all comes frommy love of cheese.” Between 80 and 90 varieties sit in the counter. “It can be a little overwhelming, seeing that many cheeses as soon as you come in, but if you’re unsure, you can try before you buy,” Lee says. “And we’ve always got a good stock of charcuterie items, condiments, crackers, wines and beers.” Supporting British factors highly here, with 60% of cheeses from the UK – the other 40% being continental ‘must-haves’ 10 @specialityfood C rosby Cheese & Charcuterie founder, Lee Zeverona, has dreamt of cheese his whole life. While his friends made a beeline to supermarket sweetie aisles in the mid-80s and early 90s, instead he says he was drawn to the cheese selection. “I was always on the lookout for different, strange ones – something a bit different. I always wanted to try them,” he smiles. Lee’s 20-year career carved out in financial consultancy couldn’t be further fromhis childhood aspirations, but they were finally realised during the Covid period when the cheese lover decided he had to get moving to make his dreams a reality, once and for all. A vision in cheese “What I wanted to create had to be a small local shop, serving the local LOCATION: CROSBY FOUNDED: 2021 FOUNDER: LEE ZEVERONA Crosby Cheese & Charcuterie The Community Builder I t gives us the greatest pleasure to reveal this year’s inspirational cheese retailers. The team really has been inspired by each and every one of them - their life-changing stories, determination, passion, creativity, and enduring love of all things cheese. We hope you’ll enjoy reading and discovering more about what motivates them, how they set the stage for success, and the cheeses their customers can’t get enough of. The cheese scene in Britain is certainly strengthened by their enthusiasm and dedication. THESE RETAILERS STRENGTHEN THE BRITISH CHEESE SCENE Introducing 2025’s Inspirational CheeseRetailers NORTH It’s seeing repeat customers that gives Lee the most job satisfaction. “Having them come back is brilliant. Especially when they’ve bought a piece of cheese they’ve not tried before, really enjoyed it, told everyone else about it, and come back wanting more advice on what to buy next.” WHAT I LOVE ABOUT BEING A CHEESEMONGER