Podcast: Mathew Carver on helping his artisan cheesemakers survive the crisis
The founder of The Cheese Bar and Pick & Cheese initially launched a delivery service to shift the thousands of pounds worth of stock in his fridges but soon realised the people he buys from were in serious trouble.
"Wholesale business stopped overnight for most of them," he says. "We have a responsibility to our cheesemakers to promote them and help them to get their cheese to people. What has hit home this week is that we still have that responsibility."
Carver had to quickly upgrade his website to be able to offer proper e-commerce and is now offering delivery to several areas of London. Alongside cheese, he offers high quality wine, chocolate, coffee and honey.
"We don't do basics. Just the sort of things I'd want if I was self isolating - enjoyable things to brighten up the week."
Nearly all his staff have been furloughed but the delivery project has been so successful Carver is considering taking some back to help him run it.
#UnitedWeStand has been created by William Reed hospitality titles BigHospitality, Restaurant magazine and Morning Advertiser and is supported by Arla Pro, Britvic, Coca-Cola European Partners, McCain and Unilever Food Solutions.
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