Responsive technical capacity
Extra capacity when technical enquiries and requests land. Forward me the questions, forms and follow-up work, and I can take care of the detail needed to get them answered.
Cheese ConsultancyTechnical support and compliance for independent cheese businesses.
Experienced, practical help for cheesemakers, specialist retailers and wholesalers, shaped around the needs of an independent business.
A technical specialist who understands and loves artisan cheese.
I'm Martin Knapp. I have spent more than two decades working in the artisan cheese world, as a cheesemonger, retail manager, cheesemaker, technical manager and cheese specialist.
That breadth of experience helps me understand both technical requirements and the realities of the product and the people behind it.
I have worked on the audited side of the table. I help cheese businesses meet the requirements that genuinely apply, in a way that is practical, proportionate and does not create paperwork for its own sake.
More about Martin20+years in artisan cheese, including The Fine Cheese Co., Paxton & Whitfield, I.J. Mellis and Sleight Farm
Technical8 years as technical manager, leading four BRCGS audits achieving AA grades
AoCAcademy of Cheese Level Two Member
Sound technical work should protect what makes an artisan cheese distinctive, not bury it beneath paperwork.
Specialist support,
without a salaried technical team.
Compliance support
Clear, proportionate support with SALSA and other audits, including gap analysis, GMP audits, traceability, non-conformances, corrective actions and customer or EHO requests.
Technical systems
Practical help with HACCP, specifications, procedures, supplier approval, shelf-life evidence, allergen labelling and legal labelling checks.
Cheese expertise
Specialist assessment rooted in a deep knowledge of artisan cheese, including quality, handling, maturation, packaging and practical product troubleshooting.
Support can also include technical liaison with customers, suppliers, auditors and government agencies, including unfamiliar import or export registrations, certification and supporting documentation.
Flexible by design
Support shaped around the work you actually need.
Work can be remote or on site, depending on what is most useful and efficient.
See how the arrangements workA useful first conversation
Tell me what is taking up
too much of your time.
Whether there is one immediate problem or a growing list of technical work, we can start with a straightforward, no-pressure conversation.