Opened by Owner Mel Shute in 2015, not far from Malmesbury Abbey and the town’s ancient Market, Capers is the fruition of a life-long dream of Mel’s:
“I’ve always had a love for cooking, baking and entertaining; and opening Capers – which I run with my children – is something I had wanted to do for a very long time. I was born and raised in Malmesbury, so knew that the outlet I opened had to be here too.”
Offering a deliciously tempting array of smoked meats, fish and game; freshly made pies, scotch eggs and quiches; a wide range of olives, artisan cheeses and charcuterie; as well as ‘of the day’ specials such as homemade soups and salads, Capers has something for everyone. The aroma of freshly ground coffee beans fills the air, and a selection of specialist tea blends is available for those partial to a favoured brew. 
Run by Mel’s daughter, Mollie Shute, Capers has an extensive choice of food and drink for customers to eat-in and enjoy, or to buy as a takeaway to consume ‘on the go’. For take-out service, choosing a quality range of disposable packaging was extremely important, as Mollie explains:
“Whether it’s a morning juice and pastry; coffee and cake for elevenses; homemade quiche and salad for lunch or even pots of our deli products to enjoy as a snack or to takeaway and enjoy at home; it was essential that we chose to use disposables that would match the quality of the food and drink we serve.
"Huhtamaki has a wide range of disposable packaging to suit our needs, including Eatwell food containers, ‘enjoy’ cups and tumblers, and Taste trays. The quality is fantastic, and the ‘enjoy’ design of the cups and pots is really eye-catching – a lot of our customers comment on how lovely the packaging is, and the choice of colours adds a splash of colour to our service. It’s also nice that the ‘enjoy’ motif goes across a few of the products too, as it makes for a more aesthetically pleasing takeaway service.”
Being a deli, the chiller cabinets at Capers are stocked with a delicious array of specialist food items – from Mediterranean olives, to balsamic onions and sundried tomatoes. Mollie serves these to takeaway in Huhtamaki’s Eatwell containers, as she continues:
“We use a variety of different Eatwell containers at Capers. The extensive choice of sizes in the range means that we have a container to suit a wide range of foods, however we find that the smaller 7oz and 8oz sizes are most suitable for our deli items – our customers often buy a pot of olives or several different items to try, after they’ve eaten in. The larger sizes are great for soup, as well as for salads, scotch eggs and larger deli items. The choice of colours is particularly good, as they correspond with the size of the container – so we know at a glance what size we are reaching for, which is especially useful during busy periods when we are under pressure!”
For more hearty items, the Taste range of products is ideal, as Mollie explains:
“We stock homemade pies, quiches and scotch eggs; which are made with more unusual fillings. These are great for customers who want lunch on the go, or who those who pop in from a local business at lunchtime for something to take back to eat at their desk. For these customers, we serve whatever they choose with a choice of freshly prepared salads – be it a leafy green salad, homemade slaw or mixed bean variety.
"For eating in, these are great served in the open Taste trays; or for those who want to transport their meal, the Taste boxes with window lids are ideal. If people want side orders separately, we use the Eatwell containers too. Some people want something sweet to finish off with, so cakes – and sometimes even ice cream too (in the warmer months) are also served in the takeaway containers.”
Capers also take a stand at events, and provide catering for local functions too. The Taste trays and Eatwell containers are used on the Capers food stall to serve ‘specials’ – BBQ pulled pork baps are a particular street-food inspired favourite, and come served with ‘Tim’s coleslaw’ and ‘Grandma Shute’s cucumber relish’ – both of which, as their names suggest, are inspired by other members of the Shute family!
Capers’ hot samosas are also popular, and are served with a selection of chutneys and sauces for a little added spice; as too is their homemade chilli and rice. Both are served in the open Taste trays, which are perfect for ‘over the counter’ service and open-top eating direct from the disposable, as Mollie continues:
“The quality of the containers is really good. Their rigidity and strength means that they are ideally suited to takeaway service, no matter what the contents – whether It’s a lighter snack item or a more substantial meal. It’s also great that they’re made in the UK – it’s always nice to be able to source products that are made here!”
Of course the Capers’ takeaway service isn’t complete without beverages to go, as Mollie says:
“We have quite an extensive beverage menu, which includes hot and cold choices. We make all our drinks available to take away, and use ‘enjoy’ paper cups for hot drinks and ‘enjoy’ tumblers for cold drinks like smoothies and milkshakes. The quality of the products is far superior to that of other disposable cups that we’ve tried, and the textured emboss of the hot cups not only ensures that the cup isn’t too hot to hold, but makes it feel nice in the hand. Our customers often comment on how unique the cups are, and how the choice of colours and feel are really nice. We are certainly pleased to be able to offer our customers something different, and love the vibrancy and contemporary feel that the products provide.”