The Perfectly Pickled Cheese Board: A Year-Round Entertaining Essential

Cheese boards and charcuterie platters have become a staple of modern entertaining, from casual get-togethers and Friday night grazing to festive celebrations and seasonal soirées. Whether it’s an easy summer spread for alfresco dining, an indulgent centrepiece for Christmas entertaining, or a standout addition to Easter lunch, cheese boards offer retailers a versatile opportunity to drive incremental sales across the calendar.

Key to any memorable board is contrast – in texture, flavour, and colour – and that’s where Mrs Elswood’s iconic range of gherkins, cornichons, pickled vegetables, and condiments comes into its own. With their tangy crunch, bold character, and instant appeal, Mrs Elswood's products elevate any cheese board into something truly special, encouraging consumers to reach for that second slice and shop with added intention.

Everything your customers need to get started making a perfectly pickled Cheeseboard

Create a board in 5 easy steps:

  1. Pick your board
  2. Pick your cheeses
  3. Pick you meats
  4. Pick you pickles
  5. The accoutrement

Bonus: Perfectly pickled drink pairings

The Board

Cheese and charcuterie boards are typically served on a stone or wooden tray/board, which comes in many shapes, such as square, round, or rectangular. Don't worry if you don't own one. You can use plates, chopping boards, or a baking tray; any flat surface will work!

Aged

Aged Cheeses like Cheddar, which offer sharp flavours and a crumbly texture, pair well with our Speared Gherkins.

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Soft

Soft cheeses like Camembert offer creamy and soft flavours and texture, perfect to balance the crunch and tang of our Classic Pickle Bites.

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Firm

Firm Cheeses like Gouda add a delicious, almost nutty flavour and sweetness, great paired to offset the salty taste of our Haimisha Gherkins.

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Blue

Not everyone is a fan of blue cheese, but this strong flavour is so delicious when combined with the sweet flavour of our Sandwich Gherkins.

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Bresaola

Combine salty cured meats, such as bresaola, with our Cornichons for a classic European combination.

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Game

Sliced Duck Breast and other strong game meats pair with spicy flavours like our Peri Peri Pickle Bites.

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Pâté

Balance the flavours of savoury Pâté with Sweet and Sour Gherkins.

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Salmon

Match our Dill Speared Gherkins with your favourite Smoked Salmon, Gravalax, Caviar for a well-loved and classic flavour pairing.

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The Pickles – Mrs Elswood

As the UK’s No.1 Pickled Cucumber brand*, Mrs Elswood is a trusted favourite in homes across the country, known for delivering bold, tangy flavour and unbeatable crunch.

With a heritage rooted in quality and consistency, the brand has become a go-to choice not just for traditional mealtime accompaniments, but for an ever-growing range of modern usage occasions – from cheese boards and deli-style grazing platters to BBQ sides, sandwiches, and snacking straight from the jar.

With consumer interest in informal entertaining and elevated at-home dining on the rise, Mrs Elswood offers retailers a versatile, recognisable brand that adds flavour and excitement to multiple categories. With a growing range that spans sweet, sour, and spicy profiles – as well as convenient formats – Mrs Elswood is perfectly placed to help retailers cater to evolving shopper tastes, all year round.

*IRI, Total Market, Pickled Cucumber Category, Value Sales MAT

Shop the Mrs Elswood range

Peppers

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Hot Sauces

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Quail Eggs

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Blinis

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Condiments

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Fresh Fruits

Mezze

Kimchi

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Bonus Step – Drink Pairings!

Go all out, with some fun and delicious drink pairings! See below some of our favourite pickly cocktail recipes.

Dill Pickle Bloody Marys

This recipe is so easy to make for your next brunch! Simply add all the ingredients to a jug and serve!

Dill Pickle Bloody Mary Recipe

Pickled Ginger Ale

Ideal refreshment for Summer, picnics, and alfresco dining. A firm favourite at pickle headquarters!

Pickled Ginger Ale Recipe

Pickle Margaritas

The perfect sip for Pickle lovers, whatever the weather!

Pickle Margarita Recipe

Gherkin Surfers

Introducing: The Gherkin Surfer Cocktail. The name? We don't know why... but what we do know is you NEED to try this creation.

Gherkin Surfer Recipe

Empire Bespoke Foods – your gateway to the world’s best food and drinks.

For over 25 years, Empire Bespoke Foods has been helping UK wholesalers and independent retailers stand out. As one of the UK’s leading importers and distributors of authentic international food and drink brands, we specialise in curating authentic products that bring a taste of the world to the UK market, with innovation and quality at the heart of everything we do.