Meet ICR 2023’s family feel champion: The Cheesery

For a couple with a history of street food, The Cheesery offered the ideal opportunity to set down roots and indulge in one of their biggest passions: cheese. Sold to Hilary and Steve Barney by the previous owner, Dorothy Hegarty, in May 2016, the business has clearly reaped the rewards from the pair doing thorough research, travelling to Scotland to conduct a cheese trail, and connecting with dairies before opening. “Dorothy was amazing with us,” begins Hilary. “She allowed us to work alongside her for a few weeks before we officially took over, providing us with a ‘bible’ of information including suppliers, best-selling cheese, even regular customers and what they liked. She taught us how to care for the cheese, wrapping and overall good working practice. This knowledge was invaluable to us.” These solid foundations paved the way to the couple opening their second store in March 2019, on Gray Street in Broughty Ferry. “With butchers, a grocer, a wine merchant, and bakeries, we thought a cheese shop would be the perfect addition to the beachside town,” she tells Inspirational Cheese Retailers.

Offering a solid range of independent retail’s most loved attributes – working with local producers, stocking a wide range of cheeses (“a selection of around 65 in each shop”), offering familiar favourites alongside adventurous options, and a knowledgeable, friendly and approachable team hosting a large number of regulars is reaping rewards.

“It’s brilliant serving regulars who know what their favourites are and that’s that, and then the other side of the coin is chatting to new customers – making them feel at ease as coming into the shop seeing all of that cheese in front of them. It’s hard to know where to start and we appreciate it can be overwhelming.” Clock-watching is a no-go at The Cheesery. “We love nothing more than taking the time with them, letting them try different cheese and working with them to create what they are looking for – whether it be a cheeseboard for a night in for two, a few cheeses for a gathering of friends or a gift. Our cheese gift boxes are the best!”

Sources of pride
As well as raising a young family during the course of the business’s growth – the couple’s two children were both born since the shop opened – the team is proud of its navigation through the myriad of challenges thrown at them by the Covid-19 pandemic and in a positive and proactive mode. “We had some minor supply issues with Brexit, but nothing major. Obviously, some price increases too. With so many small business – particularly in the food industry closing their doors at the moment, it’s not the easiest of times, however the people of Dundee and beyond love their cheese. We are so grateful for their support, and we hope to carry on doing what we’re doing – giving people a great shopping experience, a smile and fantastic, well cared for cheese to take home and enjoy.”

The Cheesery’s cheese gift subscriptions are one of Hilary and Steve’s proudest achievements. “They have been incredible,” says Hilary. “We deliver a box made up of a selection of carefully chosen cheese, accompaniments and tasting notes. It makes the perfect gift, but also a lovely thing to sign up to if you want to branch out with you cheese choices. With the first box, you receive a cheese journal where you can jot down the cheese you like, rate it, note what you had it with and we have designed a taste wheel too. This is useful for not only cheese customers may have at The Cheesery, but all over the world. It’s so great when our customers come into the shop after travelling with tales of the cheese they have tried. Every day we are learning.”

Find out more about the team by reading their profile in the latest issue of Inspirational Cheese Retailers.