Adding value to your Cheese Deli

Consumers will continue shop their large grocery items – tins, drinks, nappies etc. in major retailers and online. The chosen few have the opportunity to create something which the retailers cannot replicate, not just a great food/cheese offering (that goes without saying) but a great shopping experience. People buying cheese from a deli are looking for treat, luxury and indulgence…...mild cheddar can be bought from Tesco!

What are the principles that drive this experience?

Range

A great range of different cheeses that allows every cheeselover to tickle their tastebuds. From a range of great British classic cheeses to and artisan regional cheeses range. Classic continental cheeses as well as the new and en vogue cheeses from around Europe – the customer expects you to have a range of cheeses to suit all of their needs that’s exciting and different to that of the supermarket.

Knowledge and Passion

Something every good deli should know is their products and know them like the back of your hand. Do your research on your cheeses – where they from, what age are they, how are they made,  best time of the year to eat, what wine, fruit goes well with them. Ensure that everyone in contact with the customer has the same level as knowledge so that service will not vary depending on when people come in.  Probably a given in 99% of all deli’s that exist is a passion for the product that your selling – your the expert, that’s why they’ve come to buy from you….share your knowledge and passion and they will tell their friends and probably return!

Display

A lot of deli’s underestimate the importance of display – people shop with their eye’s…so display sells!. A orderly, clinical deli can look regimented and cold, remember we’re trying to light peoples passion for cheese therefore display needs to be abundant, catch the customers interest but must still have some order to it, so they can find the product they are looking for. Whole cheeses with smaller pre cut cheeses on top create great theatre in a counter fridge.

Sampling

Customers are 60% more likely to buy a product having tasted it first, it’s not just about giving away free cheese….it’s about engaging with your customer in store and allowing them to buy outside their regular purchase.  Neal’s Yard in London are the benchmark for this – lines form in the store and cheese is regularly sampled to the waiting public and you’ll find more often, then not customers buying additional product to what they want as they’ve just tasted it. Sampling also allows you to engage with customers with out a hard sell…..they taste a cheese and the first thing out of their mouth is ‘mmmmm…..what’s that?’ – you’ve got them on the hook to expand their cheese knowledge and probably purchase!