Cheese

Cheese was one of Sainsbury's early specialities and early salesman are often described in Census records as 'cheesemonger's assistants'.

Sainsbury's model shop in Croydon opened in 1882 and sold a much wider range of cheeses than the earlier shops. Price lists describe 'delicate Cheshires snug in their special linen shirts, rich red cheese from the Low Countries, luscious Gorgonzola from the mountain pastures' of Italy. There were Stiltons decorated with ribbon rosettes, genuine Swiss Gruyère, and specialities such as French Gervais, Roquefort and Port Salut.

The biggest trade by far was in Cheddar, with a choice between home-produced and slightly cheaper red and white Empire Cheddars from Canada and New Zealand. In 1936 Sainsbury's claimed to be 'the largest buyers of Genuine Somerset Farmhouse Cheddar'.

Until 1957, the lower basement at Sainsbury's Blackfriars warehouse was used as a cheese store. All cheese sold by Sainsbury's passed through the here before reaching the branches. Around 17,000 cheeses were stored and matured there, which must have had a memorable aroma to visitors!