Speciality Food Inspirational Cheese Retailers 2025

50 @specialityfood WE PRIDE OURSELVES ON THE QUALITY OF OUR CHEESE AND HOWWE TAKE CARE OF IT, AND THIS HAS HELPED US GAIN A REPUTATION FOR BEING ‘THE’ PLACE TO GET CHEESE IN QUITE AWIDE AREA Revisited This farmshop in the heart of Hampshire has been delighting shoppers for more than two decades – especially those seeking out carefully chosen and nurtured artisan cheeses. The role cheese plays in the business was strengthened in 2018 by the addition of a dedicated, purpose-built cheese room, overseen by assistant storemanager Jo Moody. Jo, who loves a challenge (and food) doesn’t have a cheese background, but was intent on setting up the space for success, diving into learning every aspect of cheesemongery. “When you start to learn about theworld of cheese,” she says, “you quickly become passionate about it, and I love passing this on to both the customers and staff.” The roomwas designed to hold cheeses at a temperature and humidity that allows them to be showcased unwrapped, and a ripening chamber ensures every single piece that leaves the premises is taken home by customers in peak condition. This level of attention to detail hasmade all the difference, Jo says. “We pride ourselves on the quality of our cheese and howwe take care of it, and this has helped us gain a reputation for being ‘the’ place to get cheese in quite a wide area.” In addition to continental favourites, the shop’s collection boasts an enviable array of cheesesmade in the region, fromSpenwood toWaterloo. Jo’s current favourites to be found on the shelves are Blue Clouds fromSussex, Lyburn OldWinchester, and Corscombe, made by Hollis Mead Organic Dairy in Dorset. The last 12months, Jo continues, have been good - given the economic challenges businesses are facing – with sales and footfall up. Thursdays to Saturdays are busiest, but an increase in shoppers has been noted on Sundays too. Amini cheese festival, held last autumn, proved a great way, she adds, to encourage customers to think about their Christmas cheeseboards. “We had suppliers and local cheesemakersmanning stands and offering samples. The customers could also taste the difference between a selection of Stiltons and three different Cheddars.” Thismade the Christmas selling season a lot easier. “When customers came to actually buy their Christmas selection, many remembered and asked for cheeses that had tasted. It was a great success!” Newlyns FarmShop “Great cheese retailers need a passion and love for the product, dedication to looking after it, and knowledge to pass onto the customer.” WHAT SETS INDEPENDENT CHEESE RETAILERS APART?