Skegness cheese firm owners chuckling over £250k expansion plan

The Chuckling Cheese company which has a shop in the Hildreds Centre is expanding its online sales businesses.

The company secured the finance from First Enterprise – Enterprise Loans through the Midlands Engine Investment Fund (MEIF), supported by the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) and Community Investment Enterprise Facility.

Despite losing all of its event turnover this year, the locally produced artisan cheese company is utilising the funding to adapt its business by investing in its online presence and moving several shopping centre kiosks into stores. It is also enabling the firm to stock more products, move warehouses and create 12 new jobs with more

planned in 2021.

Online customers will be able to spice up their cheese boards with these festive flavours.

Owned by husband and wife team, Stuart and Emma Colclough, Chuckling Cheese’s decision to increase its online presence follows a 1,000 per cent surge in online sales during lockdown.

Stuart Colclough, founder and owner of Chuckling Cheese, said: “We’ve adapted well to the COVID-19 challenges we’ve faced and are excited to launch our new website with a ‘build your own’ hamper and subscription service

thanks to the MEIF and CBILS funding boost.

“Our online sales have seen real growth this year and we now stock over 40 different cheeses, including a wide range of vegan options and a variety of flavours from our newly-launched Carnival Cheddar, with rum and pineapple, to our Hot and Spicy Cheddar for cheese lovers who like a chilli kick.

"We even sell tiered cheese celebration cakes for a range of celebrations and weddings.”

Emma Colclough, co-founder and owner of Chuckling Cheese, added: “Although our sales from kiosks and stores have largely remained strong, the funding we’ve received means we can now stock a wider range of produce in-store and we now sell over 50 variants of drinks as well as baked goods and confectionery.”

Matthew Wright, investment manager at First Enterprise – Enterprise Loans, said: “We are delighted to be able to support the Chuckling Cheese Company adapt its business model during these unprecedented times. Chuckling Cheese is a fantastic small business and Stuart’s and Emma’s passion for cheese is second to none.”