“We love our chutneys from around the world”

HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHAT TO STOCK FOR CHRISTMAS?
We will welcome samples to be sent in, but we also get out to trade shows such as Speciality & Fine Food Fair when we can to find other new products. Obviously the distributors are really important channels but we also cherish direct relationships with the producer. We pride ourselves on our wide range of chutneys and pickles, but over the past couple of years we have become more selective. Rather than having five different red onion marmalades, we are sticking to a maximum of three brands and curate the range from each producer carefully. If a product doesn’t make it to the shelf, we will give feedback to the supplier about why not – whether that’s taste, packaging or price point.

HOW DOES MACKNADE PROMOTE CHUTNEYS AND PICKLES IN THE RUN UP TO CHRISTMAS?
We love to host producers for tastings, so they can come face-to-face with our customers. Customers are then able to experience a product they may not otherwise try and producers can also learn a lot about their product from that personal feedback. We create hotspot tables for featured products and ask our café team to introduce the chutney or pickle to a platter or sandwich that week. We also put on our own internal tastings and promotions on a regular basis where the deli team will put together complementary pairings of a chutney together with cheese, charcuterie, crackers and other products. Recently, we put on a supper club with a whole menu designed around the incredible mostarda ‘chutneys’ from our good friends at Le Tamerici in Italy.

WHAT PRODUCTS OR BRANDS ARE BEST-SELLERS?
We love our chutneys from around the world, as well as those from closer to home. Le Tamerici from Italy and Mrs Balls Chutney (a South African icon) are both favourites of our customers. On a more traditional note, our own label Ploughman’s Chutney, made by Wooden Spoon, is our best-seller, but Bay Tree, Whitstable Pickle and Stokes are all very popular brands for us.