Cheese tops Brits’ Christmas lists

With Christmas just around the corner it’s only a matter of time before the cheeseboard will make an appearance on menus up and down the country. Leading cheese supplier, Bel Foodservice UK, conducted a survey to identify the UK’s cheese eating habits.

The survey revealed that provenance is important with a staggering 85% of consumers expecting to see French produce on a cheeseboard. It also showed how important cheeseboards are to consumers at this time of year, with nearly 60% of consumers treating themselves to a cheeseboard when dining out for a special occasion, like Christmas.

Findings also showed that consumers expect to pay 10% more for a cheeseboard than they do for dessert and are willing to spend an average of £5.14. With bookings for seasonal parties already well underway it seems that pubs, restaurants and hotels should make sure that their menu is ready to capitalise on this opportunity at Christmas and throughout the rest of the year.

Since they’re happy to pay a premium, consumers expect good value for their money with 80% agreeing that it’s important to have a good selection of cheese and 85% expecting to see between three and six pieces of cheese on a cheeseboard. 

While cheese is central to the offer, it’s also important to include extras on a cheeseboard. With nearly 85% of consumers expecting to partner their cheese with biscuits, over 70% with grapes and nearly 50% with chutney, there’s more to consider than the range of cheese.

Adéle Bird, channel marketing manager, Bel Foodservice UK said: “The findings of this survey reveal how important cheeseboards are to consumers.  They expect to see cheeseboards on menus this Christmas and operators need to ensure they offer consumers a cheese offer that meets their high expectations. Offer brands of cheese they recognise such as Port Salut or Boursin and get your customers sharing and enjoying your festive cheese board.