Buying food online: a directory of small British businesses to support during lockdown

It’s still almost impossible to get a supermarket delivery slot, so now is the perfect time to shop outside the box and buy from a small business. They could really do with the support and you get to try something new and delicious, so it’s a win-win!

As part of Great British Food’s #SupportSmallBusinesses campaign we’ve compiled a list of fantastic independent companies offering food and drink delivery - from store cupboard essentials and fruit and veg to more luxurious treats. This will be regularly updated so do keep checking what we’ve added - and feel free to email natasha@aceville.co.uk with any recommendations

FOODCHAIN DELIVERY VARIES DEPENDING ON LOCATION

Foodchain is ordinarily an app that acts as a marketplace for chefs and suppliers, linking restaurants with high quality local produce; however, since Covid-19 broke out, the organisation has reworked its app to give consumers access to domestic food deliveries. The goal is to provide access to high quality food for those who need it, whilst also driving business to their independent British suppliers during this incredibly tough time. Download the app to see what’s available in your area.

MIGHTY SMALL, DELIVERY NATIONWIDE

Mighty Small is a brand new online supermarket focused entirely on young startups and independent food and drink brands, showcasing some of the most innovative and exciting products on the market. These range from sweet and savory snacks to baking ingredients, cooking sauces and more. They’re currently offering 10% off your first order, too.

SEVERN & WYE SMOKERY, COLLECTION FROM GLOUCESTERSHIRE OR DELIVERY NATIONWIDE

Severn & Wye Smokery is an award-winning artisan and family-run business best known for its superb smoked wild salmon and eel. In response to the coronavirus crisis the business was quick to diversify, launching a telephone and online supermarket with nationwide delivery. As well as selling the company’s own smoked and cured products, Severn & Wye are also delivering fresh fish, deli items, fruit and veg, English wine and lots more.

THE TOMATO STALL, DELIVERY NATIONWIDE

Isle of Wight Tomatoes have been growing in the rich and fertile Arreton Valley for over 30 years. With around 40 varieties of tomatoes grown each year, the Island’s unique maritime climate and southern location boasts some of the best sunshine levels in the UK, resulting in some of Britain’s tastiest tomatoes. With the first crop now available you can buy a big 3kg box of beautiful tomatoes for less than £20 and have it delivered to your door. The company also sell fantastic quality passata and tomato juice.

CROSSTOWN COLLECTIVE, DELIVERY ACROSS LONDON

Fashionable London bakery Crosstown Doughnuts, known for its sourdough doughnuts, was very quick to act when the magnitude of the crisis became apparent, forming a collective with two like-minded local producers: The Estate Dairy and Millers Bakery. Together, the companies have collaborated to deliver boxes of fresh food and drinks across the capital, containing essentials like eggs, bread, milk and butter as well as luxury doughnuts.

HOBBS HOUSE BAKERY, DELIVERY NATIONWIDE

The team at Hobbs House Bakery in the Cotswolds has seen a huge rise in demand for bread deliveries across England in the last two weeks. They have increased the rate of their home delivery service so that everyone in need of the essentials (bread, cakes etc.) can have them delivered straight to their doorstep ­­­– or even send a loved one something to put a smile on their face. Highlights include sourdough bread boxes, cake club subscriptions, sourdough starter and even bread making kit.

CLOUDWATER BREW CO, DELIVERY NATIONWIDE

As well as selling and delivering its usual craft beer selection, the much-loved Manchester brewery is also offering a 25% discount off beer to key workers in the UK, including holders of NHS email addresses as well as those involved in the police, government, educational institutions and public broadcast services.

CRAFTED MEATS, NATIONWIDE DELIVERY OR FREE LOCAL DELIVERY IN PARTS OF LANCASHIRE

Lancashire-based Crafted Meats specialise in top quality meat, including rare breed pork, duck and game, heritage beef and Lune Valley lamb, sourced from a trusted network of local Lancashire farms and suppliers. As well as meat, the company also offer daily baked fresh pies, cheeses, sauces and deli items.

The company’s hand delivery service is free to its local region on the Fylde Coast in Lancashire but the team can also courier orders throughout the UK.

GAIL’S BAKERY, DELIVERY AND COLLECTION AROUND LONDON

If you live in London there are plenty of great options for getting your artisan bread fix, but Gail’s have really gone above and beyond by partnering with Ralph Lauren and The Conduit club to feed NHS workers. The bakery has produced almost 2,000 meals and baked over 2,000 loaves of bread, which have already been delivered to frontline NHS health workers, and have pledged to delivery 2,400 meals a week to NHS staff going forward.

​BALGOVE LARDER, FREE DELIVERY AROUND ST ANDREWS AND DELIVERY NATIONWIDE

St Andrews Farm Shop Balgove Larder are currently delivering a huge range of top quality produce across the UK ((excluding the Highlands & Islands), including sourdough bread, Scotch eggs, cheese and meat prepared by the in-house butchery team. The store has also started a new free home delivery service aimed at helping vulnerable members of the local community who may be less familiar with online shopping; items are available to order over the telephone and can be delivered locally in the St Andrews and immediate surrounding areas.

FOODENS, LOCAL AND NATIONWIDE DELIVERY

Non-profit start up the Foodens Foundation has launched an online marketplace allowing local businesses to sell food boxes within their own communities, whilst adhering with the strict guidelines of social distancing. Companies currently signed up include farm shops, butchers, patisseries, fruit & veg wholesalers, ready-meal companies and restaurants; sign up online to see what’s available in your area.

BOTHAM’S OF WHITBY, COLLECTION FROM WHITBY OR DELIVERY NATIONWIDE

Yorkshire craft bakery Botham’s are currently delivering a lovely selection of care packages with no postage charge. Boxes typically include tea, biscuits, various cakes and a jar of preserve.

POSITIVE BAKES, DELIVERY NATIONWIDE

Allergy friendly bakery Positive Bakes specialise in delicious and dairy gluten free treats, offering nationwide delivery of brownies and cakes. The team are also matching any cake or brownie giftbox that you purchase and donating like for like on your behalf to frontline NHS staff and NHS volunteers at no extra cost to you.

THE WENSLEYDALE CREAMERY, DELIVERY NATIONWIDE

The Wensleydale Creamery, in Hawes, North Yorkshire, has launched an ‘Online Deli’ to help consumers get their favourite food delivered to their homes. It’s not only offering various dairy products but also local produce, gifts and handmade homeware to support other Yorkshire businesses.

MINOR FIGURES, DELIVERY NATIONWIDE

Walthamstow based Minor Figures is a cold brew coffee and oat milk startup who supply a large chunk of their business to coffee shops, restaurants and hotels. The company’s web shop is filled with long life oat milk, organic oat milk and ground and whole bean coffee, and for every sale online, Minor Figures will give 5% of the order value (not just profits) to a coffee shop of the customer’s choice to give them a virtual coffee customer throughout this period of uncertainty.

THE ETHICAL BUTCHER, DELIVERY NATIONWIDE

The Ethical Butcher is an e-commerce site selling some of the most ethically sourced meats available with impressive transparency and traceability. All packaging materials used to transport the meat are recyclable, down to the vacuum packs which are fully compostable and are the first of its kind to be used in Europe. The business offers full transparency of all suppliers with a view to constantly challenge and refine how their business operated for the better.

THE BUTLER’S LARDER, DELIVERY ACROSS THE NORTH WEST & WEST YORKSHIRE

Butlers Farmhouse Cheeses has brought together a group of small, artisan food and drink producers across the North West to offer a delivery service of fresh produce to homes across the North West and and West Yorkshire. The Butler’s Larder is a selection of the most exciting food & drink (from cheese, milk, yoghurt and eggs to fresh bread, fruit and vegetables, tea and coffee, luxe chocolate and gin) from the best artisan producers.

WANDERLUST WINE, NATIONWIDE DELIVERY

Wanderlust Wine delivers organic, organically farmed and biodynamic wines to your front door (via a contactless courier service) from lesser known producers and all made sustainably. There’s also a cracking selection of English wines on offer, too. The team offer next day delivery as standard and also have ‘Wine on Demand’ (wine delivered to Londoners within the hour).

LAURENT’S DELI, DELIVERY IN LONDON

Laurent’s Deli, the French/Italian delicatessen has diversified its offering and is now fully stocked with a fresh fruit and vegetables alongside a range of Italian pastas, gourmet stock cupboard essentials and cured meats. Also available are the signature fresh gnocchi, ravioli, bread and cheeses, and delightful French patisseries. A selection of French and Italian wines are on offer for those looking to indulge at home. Pop into the deli or send your shopping list to delilaurent39@gmail.com for home delivery

PANZER’S, DELIVERY IN LONDON

Panzer’s remains open and is on hand for pre order and delivery. The kitchen will also be serving up cooked meals which can be added to your shopping list. Visit https://panzers.co.uk/ to place your order

REGIONAL DIRECTORIES

There are plenty of more locally focussed directories available. Here are some of the best we’ve come across but do get in touch if you can recommend any others

Malton Delivers

Malton businesses have come together to launch delivery services so that the town’s residents can continue to support local independent producers.

Dorset Foodie Feed

Independent, Dorset-based businesses offering food and drink delivery in various forms

LockdownLocals

A comprehensive list of alternative London food suppliers.