Waitrose finds new way to help small cheese makers during Covid-19 crisis
Waitrose has launched a special “best of British” cheese selection box as it looks to help small artisan suppliers throughout the coronavirus crisis.
Available at the 251 Waitrosee stores that have cheese counters, the box is filled with five of the supermarket’s most popular British artisan cheeses including Westcombe Cheddar, Sussex Charmer, Yorkshire Blue, Cornish Yarg & Rosary Garlic & Herb Goat’s Cheese.
Waitrose said the Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in more customers either shopping online or speeding up their in-store shop, so the move will help small scale artisan cheese makers who usually get their business from customers visiting the in-store cheese counters.
Alice Shrubsall, assistant cheese buyer at Waitrose, said: “Covid-19 created a big shift in the way people shop, particularly in the early stages, with more people wanting to grab and go. We recognised this trend and quickly adapted our approach to ensure our smallest cheese counter suppliers had the opportunity to sell their products in packaged form so that they didn’t lose out to the fast shopping habits adopted by customers in recent times.
“The response has been great and our customers are already returning to our cheese counters as a result of a greater wrapped assortment, which has allowed them to choose from a wide variety of cheeses while giving them the flexibility to grab and go.”
The boxes are priced at £15.
