Simon Davidson, Owner of R P Davidson Cheese Factor

Hi, my name is Simon Davidson. I own The Cheese Factor in Chesterfield town centre, a long-established retail shop. We’ve been trading here for over 60 years. My dad started in 1960 on the market, and we sell a selection of cheeses – about 130 in total! We also sell wines, pasties, pork pies, and a selection of sandwiches. Furthermore, we provide wholesale to local restaurants, pubs, shops and delis.

What has been your greatest achievement over the last 12 months?

We launched the ‘gift to help’ scheme, where customers can purchase food and drink vouchers for homeless people and others in need. It seems to have been greatly appreciated by many. I think it helps people feel more part of society when they can come into a shop like ours.

What are the three words you would use to describe Chesterfield?

Happy, bright and prosperous.

What do you love about working in Chesterfield?

I love working in Chesterfield! I have worked away in the army for three years and travelled around, but it was nice to come back. It seems such a cliche but there are such nice people in Chesterfield, and there are some characters as well. I love serving customers, having a bit of a laugh with them and cheering people up.

How is your business becoming more sustainable?

I’m always looking for different types of packaging to try and use instead of plastics. Of course, there are always challenges, but we’re now using wooden knives and forks to give to customers when they come in to buy lunch. We continue to review and improve things to make the shop more sustainable.

What are your favourite places to visit in Chesterfield?

Of course, I’ve got to mention the Market Pub, which is just across the road from my shop! It serves great food and drink. I like to support some of the events in our town centre as well. The Peddler Market events were very enjoyable. I’m a keen cyclist too, and there are so many great tracks here in Derbyshire, which interlink without needing to go on the roads. It’s quite amazing how far you can go now around Chesterfield on the cycleways.

Which upcoming development do you think will have the greatest impact on Chesterfield?

I’m very interested in the work taking place on the market currently and I think it’s really good for the town. I hope that once the development is complete, we can attract new stallholders to bring more people in. It’s been proven in recent years that if we have a good range of stallholders or events in our town centre, people will come. Just look at the Christmas lights switch-on day and the 1940s market as a couple of examples!

What is your vision for Chesterfield by 2030, and what needs to happen to achieve this?

I see Chesterfield changing slightly. The regeneration of the market will hopefully be done by then, and I can see it being a much nicer place. We’ll have new stalls, more seating, and more green areas. I think the town centre will have more independent stores, more eateries and more of a nighttime culture too. I think all those things will be positive and should bring more people into Chesterfield to visit and stay.