Tesco has launched a search for new artisan cheesemakers to meet the growing demand for regional and specialist cheeses from its customers.
The retailer said new suppliers had an opportunity to “win a share of its growing regional cheese market, which is already worth £12m and growing annually”.
“From Cornwall to Scotland, from Wales to East Anglia, the supermarket is keen to uncover local hero craft cheeses that are worthy of celebration and wider recognition,” it said.
The new cheeses will initially be sold in Tesco stores in the home region of suppliers – a market that could extend to several surrounding counties.
But if they prove to be really popular with customers, they could then be given a UK-wide listing, Tesco said, citing the experience of North Yorkshire blue cheese specialist Shepherds Purse and its Harrogate Blue cheese – which was originally listed in about 40 stores in 2020, with sales of around 10 tonnes a year.
Tesco said the cheese “was extremely popular with customers” and was extended to Tesco stores across the UK in 2023 with sales now reaching 43 tonnes a year in Tesco alone.
As a result of that success, Tesco also took the decision to range another four cheeses from Shepherds Purse in the Yorkshire region.
“We are looking to highlight the outstanding cheeses made locally across the UK and want to hear from artisan companies who are ready to take the next step in growing their businesses and sharing their fantastic products with a wider audience,” said James Lamont, Tesco head of local sourcing.
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“We know that taking the next step can sometimes seem daunting but the Tesco local sourcing team are experts in supporting small businesses as the grow and can offer a wide range of help and advice on everything from distribution to marketing and sustainability,” he added.
“This is an exciting project and we’re particularly interested in hearing from cheesemakers with regional specialities who have award-winning cheeses in their portfolio and have a great story to tell.”
Shepherds Purse said it had gone from strength to strength after Tesco’s listing of three of its cheeses – Yorkshire Blue, Harrogate Blue and Northern Blue – when it launched its ‘Grab and Go’ deli areas in 2020.
The company’s co-MD Katie Matten said: “It was a great move for us because within a year Harrogate Blue had become so popular that it was given a national listing and it has enjoyed continual growth ever since.
“As a small business, relationships matter and the teams at Tesco have always led with a desire to understand us and our products, which is so important in speciality cheese.”
Suppliers can make themselves known to Tesco via the RangeMe platform that connects retail buyers with new suppliers.
The supermarket giant said its sourcing process had been “streamlined, making it easier for retailers to discover, evaluate, and purchase products from brands both locally and globally”.
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