Speciality Food Inspirational Cheese Retailers 2025

it was strange. In the 80s, cheese in England wasn’t considered very good. Why would they come over here to get it? It transpired it was really good!” Relish was a small but reputable shop when Florian took the reins – mostly selling wines, with a few cheeses and accoutrements. “I felt this was something I could take on that wasn’t too scary to begin with! The idea was to gently expand it, because my knowledge of the market wasn’t very good. It had to be done in a slow way.” Little by little he’s put his stamp on the business, including closing (due to Covid restrictions) the restaurant and original location, and moving to new premises. 22 @specialityfood W ine, food and eating well have been a defining thread throughout most of Relish Delicatessen owner Florian de Poray’s life. Having spent decades travelling around Europe, being exposed to the best ingredients, he says his first foray into retail (buying the business from its original founder in 2010) was always going to centre around absolute quality – including sourcing the very best cheeses he could lay his hands on. “Cheese is one of those things I find quite extraordinary,” he says of his love of fromage. “When I was younger, studying fine art in Florence, I was reading a Medieval manuscript, and found the people there got an awful lot of cheese from England. I thought LOCATION: ST HELIER, JERSEY FOUNDED: 1995 FOUNDER: FLORIAN DE PORAY (SINCE 2010) RelishDelicatessen THE CONTINENTAL EXPERT Florian’s mission to source fine cheeses and accompaniments stretches to his wine selection too. It’s important, he explains, to be thoughtful about such things. After all, many customers are stopping by because they’re hosting guests and want to impress. It’s worth investing in interesting and exciting wines shoppers can pair with their cheeses. “We have a lovely selection of wines and Champagnes, generally from small vineyards and farms. They’re very different from anything you can get elsewhere. People come in because of that,” he says. BUYING THE BEST CHANNEL ISLANDS