Our Booths Cheese Academy

Here at Booths, we’re proud to have an award-winning selection of cheese, crafted by producers from across Booths Country and beyond and curated into a delicious selection by our team of expert Buyers. We have Cheesemongers in many of our stores to help customers make the perfect choice, from recommendations to serving tips and even the chance to try before you buy, our team is always happy to help.

After over 40 years working in our specialist areas, cheese, fish and butchery, Craft and Skill Manager, Colin Porter along with Operational Trainers, Mark, David and KJ, identified the potential for improving the first-class experience provided at our cheese counters through colleagues’ knowledge and understanding of our range.

Now in its second year, Colin and the team have successfully developed a unique training programme, open to colleagues across all 25 of our stores. As well as providing fantastic career development opportunities, it means that you can be sure you’re getting the very best service from our cheesemongers each time you shop in store. Whether you’re looking to create your own cheese and wine hamper or an indulgent cheeseboard, our colleagues leave the programme with a wealth of expert knowledge to help you choose.

What’s Involved?

With a similar structure to our more established Fish and Butchers academies, the programme is run over 20 weeks alongside the trainees’ regular working hours. Along with theoretical practices that teach the trainees leadership skills and the importance of commercial awareness and ordering stock for displays in store, they also have the chance to learn practical skills and take part in specialist days out.

We’re pleased to be able to work with so many incredible local producers, especially for our range on the cheese counter. These strong relationships allow trainees to take part in visit days, where they’re able to learn from experts who make delicious cheese daily.

Dewlay Cheesemakers are absolutely delighted to be involved in the Booths Cheese Academy initiative, and the part we play is in welcoming Booths colleagues to our dairy and allow them to truly engage in the cheesemaking process from start to finish. This helps them to gain the valuable knowledge, insight, enthusiasm, and confidence that they take back to their stores, and impart on their colleagues,  and ultimately their customers.

Conor Daunt, Commercial Director from Dewlay Cheesemakers

Thinking Like A Chef

Every Booths training academy includes a focus on cooking and teaching colleagues how to think like a chef or a host so they can help customers choose the perfect ingredients for their favourite dishes.

From creating cheeseboards to making cauliflower cheese from scratch, it’s these extra skills that make our academies so unique to Booths.

Hear From The Team

Kate Emerson-Brown, Cheese Academy Graduate, Barrowford

I really enjoyed being part of the academy, it helped me gain more knowledge and grow my confidence when it came to serving suggestions and the different ways to cook with cheese. My favourite part since graduating has been creating new seasonal displays and tastings for customers to enjoy, it’s lovely to see everyone taking photos and buying the cheeses that are showcased!

Colin Porter, Craft & Skill Manager

The cheese academy is another really exciting development and addition to our Learning and Development programme, that aims to further develop our people.

I’m extremely proud to be able to develop our colleagues within these key areas of our stores and it goes without saying, our team of Operational Trainers who support all our academies are instrumental to their success. Our colleagues in store are simply superb whilst on the programme as they become really engaged in the learning journey and this passion alongside the work we do with some our cheese makers is truly inspirational. Great colleagues, great products, great cheesemakers delivers a memorable experience for our customers.