What you need for a cheese Christmas market

Use this shopping list to prepare a cheese Christmas market with stalls, tastings and hot drinks. It covers the items people often arrange too late: chilled storage, serving boards, cheese knives, cups, kettles, warmers and safe power distribution. Plan quantities from your guest count, then add a small buffer for breakage, spills and extra servings. Keep refrigerated cheese cold until it reaches the market and prepare separate equipment for hot drinks and warm food.

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What to bring

Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.

Furniture

Party tentsqty 4
Market stallsqty 8
Beer tablesqty 10
High tablesqty 8
Chairsqty 60
Stoolsqty 20
Tableclothsqty 20
Clothes racksqty 2

Tableware

Platesqty 150
Dessert platesqty 120
Glassesqty 180
Coffee cupsqty 80
Mugsqty 100
Forksqty 150
Knivesqty 150
Spoonsqty 120
Cheese knivesqty 20
Serving boardsqty 20
Small bowlsqty 30
Serving spoonsqty 12

Equipment

Coffee machinesqty 3
Kettlesqty 3
Food warmersqty 4
Soup kettlesqty 2
Mulled wine kettlesqty 2
Coolersqty 6
Extension cordsqty 8
Power stripsqty 8
Cable traysqty 12
Payment terminalsqty 3

Kitchen

Cutting boardsqty 8
Chef’s knives and bread knivesqty 8
Measuring cupsqty 4
Mixing bowlsqty 6
Pliersqty 10
Thermos flasksqty 8
Food containersqty 20
Aluminum foilqty 6

Decorations

Christmas treesqty 3
Christmas baublesqty 120
Christmas garlandsqty 12
Christmas wreathsqty 6
Poinsettiasqty 10
Menu boardsqty 12
Signage boardsqty 10

Lighting

String lightsqty 16
LED lanternsqty 20
LED candlesqty 40

Cleaning

Waste binsqty 10
Waste sorting binsqty 4
Bucketsqty 6
Mopsqty 6
Broomsqty 4
Dustpan and brushqty 4
Cleaning glovesqty 12
Hand soap dispensersqty 6

Catering

Groceries
- Young Gouda cheese - 6 kilogram
- Aged Gouda cheese - 6 kilogram
- Aged Gouda cheese - 4 kilograms
- Brie - 3 kilograms
- Camembert - 2 kilogram
- Blue cheese - 2 kilograms
- Goat cheese - 2 kilogram
- Herbed cream cheese - 3 kilogram
- Raclette cheese - 5 kilogram
- Grated aged cheese - 4 kilograms
- Mozzarella - 2 kilograms
- Parmesan cheese - 1 kilogram
- Cream cheese with herbs - 2 kilograms
- Baguettes - 30 pieces
- Wholemeal loaves - 12 pieces
- Ciabatta - 12 pieces
- Toast crackers - 20 packs
- Crackers - 15 packs
- Mini burger buns - 100 pieces
- Rye bread - 8 packs
- Butter - 3 kilograms
- Olive oil - 3 liters
- Cream - 6 liters
- Milk - 12 liters
- Oat milk - 6 liters
- Eggs - 60 pieces
- Potatoes - 15 kilogram
- Onions - 5 kilograms
- Garlic - 8 bulbs
- Leek - 4 kilograms
- Winter carrots - 5 kilograms
- Pumpkin - 8 kilogram
- Mushrooms - 4 kilogram
- Bell peppers - 4 kilograms
- Cherry tomatoes - 4 kilograms
- Cucumbers - 3 kilograms
- Grapes - 6 kilograms
- Apples - 8 kilograms
- Pears - 6 kilogram
- Figs - 2 kilograms
- Dates - 2 kilogram
- Walnuts - 2 kilograms
- Almonds - 2 kilograms
- Cashews - 2 kilogram
- Raisins - 1 kilogram
- Fig jam - 12 jars
- Onion chutney - 12 jars
- Plum compote - 8 jars
- Honey - 6 jars
- Mustard - 8 jars
- Dijon mustard - 6 jars
- Mayonnaise - 6 jars
- Ketchup - 6 bottles
- Pesto - 8 jars
- Garlic sauce - 6 bottles
- Pickles - 8 jars
- Pickled onions - 6 jars
- Vegetable bouillon - 20 liters
- Salt - 2 kilograms
- Black pepper - 500 grams
- Paprika powder - 250 gram
- Nutmeg - 100 grams
- Thyme - 100 grams
- Rosemary - 100 gram
- Cinnamon - 250 gram
- Star anise - 100 gram
- Cloves - 100 grams
- Bay leaves - 100 gram
- Coffee - 8 packs
- Black tea - 4 boxes
- Herbal tea - 4 boxes
- Hot chocolate - 12 liters
- Whipped cream - 30 spray cans
- Sugar - 5 kilograms
- Honey sticks - 300 pieces
- Mulled wine - 40 liter
- Non-alcoholic mulled wine - 15 liters
- Apple juice - 20 liters
- Orange juice - 15 liters
- Cola - 12 bottles
- Cola Zero - 12 bottles
- Ginger ale - 8 bottles
- Spa Blauw - 60 bottles
- Sparkling water - 30 bottles
- Beer - 10 crates
- Alcohol-free beer - 4 crates
- Mulled wine cups - 300 pieces
- Napkins - 1000 pieces
- Coffee filters - 3 boxes
- Stirrers - 500 pieces
- Paper bowls - 500 pieces
- Wooden forks - 500 pieces
- Carry bags - 300 pieces
- Cling film - 6 rolls
- Baking paper - 6 rolls
- Paper towels - 12 rolls
- Toilet paper - 36 rolls
- Trash bags - 150 pieces
- Dish soap - 6 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 6 bottles
- Disinfectant spray - 4 bottles
- Hand soap - 6 bottles
- Paper towels - 12 packs

Tips

Allow at least one plate, fork and napkin per planned tasting, plus 10–15% extra for replacements. Provide separate dessert plates if you are serving sweet items alongside the cheese.
Plan one cheese knife and one serving board for each active cheese stall or tasting station. Small bowls and serving spoons are useful for sauces, dips and accompaniments without mixing them between stalls.
For hot drinks, prepare roughly 1 mug or coffee cup per guest for the first serving, then add 20% if the market runs longer than two hours. Kettles and coffee machines should be tested before setup.
Keep chilled cheese in coolers or refrigerators until service and check the temperature before guests arrive. Do not rely on a single cooler for the whole market; separate stock from display portions where possible.
Map power points before placing coffee machines, kettles, food warmers and mulled wine kettles. Use extension cords, power strips and cable trays so cables stay away from walkways, wet areas and stall entrances.

Frequently asked questions

How much tableware do I need for a cheese Christmas market?: Start with one plate, fork and glass per guest, then add 10–15% extra. For a 100-guest market, that means at least 110 of each frequently used item, with additional cups or mugs for hot drinks.
How many cheese knives and serving boards do I need?: Allow one knife and one board for every active cheese stall or tasting station. Add one spare set for every five stations so a dropped or contaminated utensil does not stop service.
How many cups do I need for hot drinks?: Plan one mug or coffee cup per guest for the first serving, plus around 20% extra for refills and replacements. For 100 guests, prepare about 120 cups before opening.
When should I chill the cheese and dairy?: Move cheese and dairy into refrigeration or coolers several hours before service, preferably overnight for a large delivery. Check the storage temperature again before setting out display portions and keep reserve stock cold.

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