If you don’t live near a good food shop, here are some alternative online supermarkets owned by indie companies. Not everything is plant-based, but the companies overall have better ethics and better sustainability and tend to be privately run, so more in tune with what people want.
Avoid essential oils for pregnancy/nursing/medical conditions, Keep essential oils, candles and xylitol (if bought in food/toothpaste/gum) away from pets. See pet-toxic plants and houseplants to avoid. Keep ice packs out of reach of pets/children) and use letterbox guards.
- Forrist offers zero-waste pantry foods, beauty/laundry items and sustainable kitchen goods. When you send back 50 packaging pouches, get a free glass jar in return. You can schedule collection for local goods or get free shipping over £75 (free for first order).
- Good Sixty delivers food from local indie shops in one order, often in electric vans. Each £1 spent with a local indie has 60% greater economic benefit than spending at a large supermarket (hence the company name). Some 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 socially responsible food makers. The companies prepare orders just for you, lots of nice vegan options.
- Nature’s Health Box is an online store to buy all basics (grains, beans, spices, herbs etc). There are regular discounts and goods are sent in biodegradable packaging from Brighton.
- The Food Market 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.