Not everyone lives near a good supermarket, and many people prefer to travel to shop in person. But if you are one the millions of people who buy your groceries online, here are a few indie alternatives, to give the big supermarkets a run for their money. They have better ethics and better sustainability and tend to be privately run, rather than in-hoc to shareholders. Always good news for customers!
Most indie supermarkets sell beauty/cleaning/gardening items. Keep toxic ingredients away from pets like essential oils, candles and xylitol (used in some natural toothpastes and gum). Also learn of pet-toxic plants and houseplants to avoid. Use a letterbox guard or have items delivered to a safe garage/porch. Keep ice packs out of reach of pets/children.
Dizzie offers hundreds of refillable grocery items, with carbon-neutral delivery. They collect your pots, wash them and deliver them to you again. You even get a free refill kit with your first order.
Forrist is an online plant-based supermarket that sells pantry essentials, zero waste beauty/laundry items and sustainable kitchen goods. When you send back 50 packaging pouches, you get a free glass jar in return. You can schedule collection for local goods or get free shipping nationwide over £75 (free standard delivery on first order).
Good Sixty is a nice idea. It works like an online supermarket, but instead delivers food from all your local indie food shops, in one order. Often delivered in electric vans, you may just one delivery fee, rather than driving around to several indie stores in one day. Each £1 spent with a local indie food producer has 60% greater economic benefit than spending at a large supermarket (hence the company name). Some of the retailers also offer a click-and-collect service.
Yumbles sells good food from indie stores, each one delivers direct. The company taste-tests everything themselves before adding small-batch and socially responsible food makers. The companies prepare orders just for you, lots of nice vegan options like Lucy’s Vegan Mayonnaise.
A Few Other Good Online Supermarkets
- Nature’s Health Box is an online store to buy all your basics (grains, beans, spices, herbs etc). There are regular discounts and goods are sent in biodegradable packaging from the seaside city of Brighton.
- Green Bay Supermarket is a major online supermarket, selling only vegan items. You can get many regular store discounts and sale bargains, though at present, some items may have palm oil, so it’s best to avoid these to protect orangutans and other endangered creatures.
- The Food Market is a major online supermarket that works with small businesses, selling items you won’t find in major supermarkets. There are thousands of small indie brands to choose from, and filters to let you choose food that is vegan, diabetic-friendly and organic etc.
- Bother is a new online supermarket that sends in sustainable packaging and you can filter goods by vegan or clearance, to reduce food waste. The founder wants people to shop online for bulky heavy goods, and then still support local indies for fresh regular foods.
