These are difficult times, to say the least. I hope you’re keeping well. I know many of you are, like me, self-isolating so cannot get to shops. Even if you’re not self-isolating, shopping is still a risk. So I’m collecting details of small food independent companies that will deliver to your door, so you don’t have to go out. I’ll be listing them sector by sector, starting with cheese and butter, moving to meat, then bread and dried goods, and so on.
The good news is that this will help independent food companies, which are extremely vulnerable at a time like this. Farms with cattle producing milk need to continue selling it or they won’t survive. Many family butchers and businesses making high-quality artisan bread, cheese or charcuterie won’t get through this crisis unless we support them. So shopping from them is a win-win. As we’ve seen, the big supermarkets cannot cope, so being small and flexible is actually proving an advantage. Get ordering – and please pass on this info to anyone you know!
The places listed below deliver nationally. But if you live in Bristol, you can order fabulous (mostly British) cheeses from Two Belly, who will deliver cheese (and butter, bread, eggs, and booze) to your door FOR FREE if you live in central Bristol. The Bristol Cheesemonger will deliver for a charge of £3 to postcodes BS1 to BS8, or for free anywhere in the UK if your order is over £50.
If you’re a small food company who is delivering and should be included here, please get in touch.
Keep safe.
Devon-based Clothbound Cheddar producer, Quicke’s, can deliver its fabulous artisan cheeses (two pics above) nationwide, tel 01392 851000. It’s offering free delivery to NHS staff and all vulnerable groups (including those in self-isolation) affected by COVID-19. These people can use code ‘CHEESE25’ to get free delivery on orders above £25. Pics: Matt Austin
The Cheddar Gorge Cheese Company is the only business still making cheddar (above) in the village of Cheddar, Somerset. Place your order before 9am Monday – Thursday for next day delivery. £4.95 delivery for up to 20kg.
Fen Farm Dairy, in Suffolk, makes Baron Bigod cheese (above) from the raw milk of its own Monbeliarde cows. If you’re not already acquainted with the baron, it’s the only traditional raw milk Brie-de-Meaux-style cheese made in the UK, and so gorgeous that even the French are envious! As they rely on the restaurant trade for much of their business, they have a lot of cheese to shift, so are offering their Baron Bigod at HALF PRICE, with FREE delivery nationwide. Round cheeses cost £20 a kilo, or can you buy wedges, which freeze well, for £45 for eight wedges. Order their raw-milk butter too.
Cheesemakers of Canterbury have become famous in the cheese world for their cheddar-style Ashmore (above) which comes in various stage of maturity. I love their Ancient Ashmore, aged for at least 12 months. They also make other cheeses, such as a Canterbury Cobble and Kelly’s Goats (see their range pictured below). The cheesmaker normally sells much of its cheese at The Goods Shed, a magnificent farmer’s market/foodhall/restaurant inside an old station goods shed in central Canterbury, Kent. The Goods Shed is now offering to deliver any goods from the market (including Cheesemakers of Canterbury cheeses) for £10 if you live outside Canterbury, or £5 if you live in Canterbury. Visit the website to see what’s available, then email your shopping list to susanna@thegoodsshed.co.uk Independent businesses like The Goods Shed urgently need our support at this difficult time, so please get ordering.
Another Kent business that needs supporting, and that is offering FREE delivery, is Kingcott Dairy , a small family dairy farm that makes blue cheeses from the milk of their own dairy cows. They’re also offering their Blues Boxes at discount prices.
Finally, Somerset’s Westcombe Dairy will deliver their hand-crafted traditional cheddar anywhere in England and Wales for just a tenner. Order by noon Mon-Thurs and you’ll get it next day.
Cheesemakers of Canterbury cheeseboard
