Australian artisan cheese retailer, Cheese Therapy, is expanding to launch a new online marketplace described as being the ‘Etsy’ for food.
Co-Founders Sam Penny and Helen Shadforth, said Cheese Therapy announced the launch of Artisans Bend this week, which will utilise their experience, infrastructure, and marketing expertise to provide a new food destination.
“It’s a new shopping experience where Australians get to explore and support producers and where artisans get to share their passions and stories,” Penny said.
Artisans Bend will officially launch in September while more than 70 artisan producers have already asked to come onboard.
“We are so excited to be launching this new online collective for all Australian rural and regional food, wine, coffee, condiments, and artisan producers,” Penny said.
Cheese Therapy had 23.4X growth in sales revenue for FY20 and FY21. The online gourmet hamper business saved Milawa Cheese Co after the bushfires and went on to support a further 17 cheesemakers during the pandemic, including Apostle Whey Cheese, which recorded 52 per cent sales growth last financial year.
“During last year’s pandemic, Cheese Therapy sold two years’ worth of cheese in one month, equating to 2,400 per cent sales growth,” Penny said.
Cheese Therapy is partnering with Melbourne-based global technology company, Marketplacer to deliver the new platform.
“Cheese Therapy is a family-run business, and we know most artisan producers are small mum and dad businesses, so Artisans Bend is a way for us to help mentor them and find a market for their products,” Penny said.
Marketplacer Co-Founder Sam Salter said: “We’re thrilled to be a part of the Cheese Therapy journey in supporting their mission to see Australia’s traditional makers, often from small fire and pandemic-impacted communities, transacting with Australia’s cheese-lovers in the one marketplace.”
