At Shepherds Purse, we’re proud that our cheeses now reach people in many ways; through farm shops, delis, and cheesemongers, through our online shop, and through national and online retailers who help us bring our speciality Yorkshire cheeses to more tables across the country.

Each of these routes matters. Together, they help us grow, help our supplier farmers, help us keep making our cheeses in Yorkshire, and connect more people to the world of speciality cheese and British farming.

But there’s something uniquely special about the independent retailers who’ve been part of our journey from the very beginning.

The Independent Difference

Walk into a local deli, farm shop, or market and you’ll feel it immediately. That extra sense of care and connection, independent retailers are the people who bring food to life.

They know their customers, share their stories and our stories, and make time for conversation. If you build a relationship with your local shop you’ll open up your access to a world of new connections and hopefully new foods too.  Farm shops and local delis are selling, curating, educating, and connecting people to real food, made with real care.

A Challenging Time for Small Retailers

We also know how tough it is right now. The cost of living is increasing which is squeezing us all as consumers, and rising costs from energy to wages to rates, have put real pressure on small retailers, many of whom already work tirelessly just to keep the doors open.

Their resilience, creativity, and care in the face of these challenges is to be supported.  When you choose to shop with them, and choose to buy good food, you’re helping to sustain livelihoods, local jobs, and the independent spirit that keeps our high streets and rural communities alive.

Why It All Matters

Independent retailers are vital for small producers like us. They champion diversity, regional identity and craftsmanship, and keep our food culture rich, local, and personal. They make an effort to know us and us them. But the wider picture does matter too.

As a small but well established producer, working with national retailers helps ensure that British artisan cheese has a rightful place in the mainstream and ensure that quality, provenance, and regional food traditions are accessible to everyone, not just those lucky enough to live near a farm shop or fantastic deli. It’s how we create resilience: a network of local shops, regional markets, national partners, and direct connections that together sustain British food culture.

When you buy Shepherds Purse, wherever you find it, whether that’s in your favourite local deli or on the shelves of your supermarket, you’re part of this shared story.

You’re helping to keep craft cheesemaking alive in Yorkshire, to support local jobs and family businesses, and to ensure that real food made with care continues to have its place in the world.

The Spirit of the Season

So this Christmas, as you fill your cheeseboard or send gifts to loved ones, consider supporting your local independents. Step inside, ask for something new, and take the time to savour the stories behind what you buy. Those moments of connection between maker, retailer and you, are what make food truly special.

Independent retailers are, and always will be, the heartbeat of British food. And we’re grateful to every one of them, and to every person who chooses to support them.