Speciality Food Inspirational Cheese Retailers 2025

specialityfoodmagazine.com 25 WHEN REGULAR CUSTOMERS FOUND OUT ITWAS BEING SOLD, THEY PANICKED, THINKING ITWOULD TURN INTO SOMETHING ELSE. WHEN THEY REALISED ITWAS STILL GOING TO BE A CHEESE SHOP ITWAS SUCH A RELIEF FOR THEM and Black Bomber) are supported by regularly changing new stock, so the variety of 80 to 100 types always has something different for customers to try. “The stock has been the same for quite awhile, so it’s nice to have new things,” Danielle says. “Customers are liking sampling flavours of Snowdonia Cheese they haven’t been able to buy here before, like Amber Mist, Rock Star and Bouncing Berry.” Danielle has also taken the shop into the 21st Century by reviving its social media accounts and introducing it to TikTok. “TikTok is such a big platform, and I’mbuilding the Facebook back up too. I’malready starting to seemore and more people interested in us. An example is we just started to sell Doddington ice cream. I put that on TikTok and sales picked up.” Adding local wines, spirits, ales BEST-SELLING CHEESES NETTLE Made to an original Northumberland recipe using Northumberlandmilk, the nettles act as a natural rennet in this delicious cheese. northumberland cheese.co.uk HARROGATE BLUE An internationally renowned, golden- bodied blue cheese, matured for a minimumof 10 weeks to deliver lots of depth and layered complexity. shepherdspurse.co.uk and ciders to The Cheese Shop, to complement the cheeses, is also on the cards. The local connection Speaking of local, whilemany of the folk who pass through The Cheese Shop’s doors are from the area, Morpeth is firmly onNorthumberland’s tourismmap and, as we all know, tourists love taking a slice of their holiday homewith them. The shop’s cheese counter is split between European and British (fromLe Gruyère to Stilton), but there is also a skew towards local makes to target this market. “Themain ones we have are from Northumberland Cheese Company. That’s only 15minutes up the road fromus. And we have lots of cheeses fromYorkshire, including Harrogate Blue and Yorkshire Blue too.” Enhancing the local offering further are butter and eggs sourced nearby, Northern honey, and regionally sourced chutneys, as well as plumbread fromWhitby. Sourcing andmaking discoveries has become a real pleasure for Danielle, who says she loves everything about being a fledgling cheesemonger. “Fromspeaking to the customers, to learningwith the customers. It’s all great fun.” Her next step (after conquering TikTok that is) is to take The Cheese Shop exprience out tomarkets and events, with plans for a giant cheese cart underway. Watch this space! BLACK BOMBER A creamy extramature Cheddar with seriously intense and deeply savoury notes. snowdoniacheese. co.uk