Each month we feature a business operating within the SW1 area. Please click on the links below to see past features and please contact us should you wish your business to be featured in the future.
Contact Rozanne Shipman, Stakeholder Engagement Officer by email: Rozanne Shipman
October - November 2010
: Rippon Cheese Stores
The Victoria BID's John Hodgkiss, talks to Karen Rippon of Rippon Cheese Stores and finds out more about their refurbished shop and what it is like to work in a giant walk in fridge!
JH: How long have you operated from the Upper Tachbrook Street site?
KR: We have operated from number 26 Upper Tachbrook Street for almost twenty years now. In fact, we will be celebrating our 20th Anniversary in October 2010. We’ll be celebrating with events and offers around Tachbrook Street Market throughout October.
Tell us a little about the refurbishment that took place last year...
Last year, we developed number 26 Tachbrook Street into what has essentially become a walk in fridge! This maximises the storage and freshness of all our cheese. Also, with 500 cheeses in stock at any one time, we are now able to display all of our ranges clearly to our customers, with shelf side information available on all of our ranges including their country of origin.
How many cheeses do you offer on site and how many countries from around the world do these represent?
We always have at least 500 types of cheese in stock within the store at one time, but due to seasonal variations with cheeses from around the world, this can often increase to around 550 throughout the year. Around 400 of these are from the UK and France combined, with the rest being made up of ranges from Spain, Italy, Scandinavia, Switzerland and the Netherlands.
What’s the most popular cheese which is sold in store?
The most popular cheeses tend to be our varieties of Cheddar, Stilton and Brie. Some of our lines are also seasonal such as ‘Vacherin Mont d’Or’ which is one of our biggest sellers at the moment. However, we always encourage customers to try something new, as well old favourites so we often alter special offers to showcase different cheeses, both old and new from around the world. At the moment, we’re showcasing cheeses of the Netherlands in store at the Tachbrook site.
As a wholesaler, do you supply any of the big name restaurants around London?
We are very happy to say that we are purveyors of cheese to some of London’s finest restaurants and clubs, but we do have to be rather secretive about who we supply to!
How will the business be expanding in the future?
We are currently in the process of upgrading our website to illustrate all of the cheese that we have on offer. We will also be introducing a new mail order service via the website in the near future for delivery throughout London and the UK. We will pilot this soon, so watch this space!
What, in your opinion are the most effective ways that Victoria can ensure a successful future?
Victoria has a great central location in which to do business and is perfectly located for access to the rest of London. There is such an eclectic mix of business in the area, from the hustle and bustle of Victoria Station, through to Belgravia and Pimlico.
The Rippon Cheese Store is at 26 Upper Tachbrook Street, London SW1 1SW tel 020 7931 0628/0668 or EMAIL RIPPON CHEESES
Or take a look at one of our past features below
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