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The independent small food businesses doing home deliveries

From Betty’s to Daylesford, these are the local shops to support during lockdown and beyond 

Louise Whitbread
Tuesday 05 January 2021 16:20 GMT
<p>Whether you’re after organic vegetables, prime cuts of meat or homemade pies there’s something for everyone here</p>

Whether you’re after organic vegetables, prime cuts of meat or homemade pies there’s something for everyone here

In a bid to tackle the rising coronavirus cases, England has entered its third country-wide lockdown, as such supermarkets may come under more strain once again. 

As demand for delivery slots increases, supermarkets are insisting they have enough stock for everyone and ask that shoppers do not stockpile again, as this put strain on the supply chains. We've compiled the latest information on the supermarket's delivery slots here.

If you prefer the security and ease of a food subscription delivery service, we’re keeping our round-up on subscriptions updated too. 

But we mustn’t forget small independent food businesses either. Often set up by individuals, families or small groups of people, they rely on regular orders to keep going, which will be lost as restaurants shut down again.

Whether you’re after organic vegetables, prime cuts of meat or homemade pies, we’ve listed some great food businesses to shop from, to keep your cupboards, fridge and freezer stocked and to help these great brands going.

You can trust our independent roundups. We may earn commission from some of the retailers, but we never allow this to influence selections. This revenue helps us to fund journalism across The Independent.

For delicious homemade meals, look to Potage for mealtimes

Created by Georgia Cummings in her mum’s kitchen in 2012, Potage uses local ingredients from British supplies to make healthy, homemade and sustainable dishes, specifically for people too busy to cook.

Ditch the takeaways and instead build your box of either five or 10 meals. Each serving (which feeds two) costs £6 and delivery is free on every order. 

We’ve got our eye on the mac n greens, made with peas and kale, topped with herby toasted breadcrumbs or the aubergine lasagne, with portobello mushrooms and spinach in a creamy béchamel sauce.

There’s also extras to add for for a sweet or savoury treat, including brownies, cookie dough or spinach and feta rolls.

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Treat yourself to fresh vegetables to organic smoked meats, and put your cooking skills to work

While all its cafes will be closed under new lockdown rules, the Daylesford farm shops in London and the Cotswolds are still available to order from to addresses throughout the UK. 

You can create a bespoke order or choose from seasonal dishes like spiced salmon fillets with slow-roasted tomatoes and ginger or grass-pastured beef burgers with blue cheese, bacon jam, pickled beets and crisp potatoes.

To arrange delivery, just email delivered@daylesford.com to place an order. Alongside that, there is a range of Daylesford goods on Deliveroo too.

It is also offering same-day, free delivery in the Cotswolds, for customers who live within 10 miles of its Kingham farm shop. Orders must reach a minimum of £30. 

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Anyone with a sweet tooth will love the bakes and cakes at Betty's

If you have a sweet tooth, place an order with Betty’s, the famous Yorkshire bakery and tea room. With everything you need for a teatime treat (and let’s face it, who wont’ be needing that during lockdown) from cakes, bread, biscuits, chocolates, teas and coffees, you can get your sugar fix from one place.

It also offers Christmas hampers, food gifts like stocking fillers and mince pies, so if there’s a foodie in your household, you can’t go wrong. 

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With endless varieties of frozen fish to shop, you’ll be spoilt for choice

Pescatarians and fish fans will be pleased to hear The Fish Society is running as normal, and for any orders placed in November, customers will receive 10 per cent off when using the code"NOEL" at checkout. 

The luxury online fishmonger is accepting orders and delivers across the UK and Europe. 

The peeling king prawns look delicious and will pair nicely in a pasta dish or as a prawn cocktail starter. If you can’t treat yourself now, then when can you? And if that doesn’t tickle your tastebuds, there’s over 200 kinds of frozen fish to choose from.

Courier delivery is free for UK orders under £40, but, it’ll cost £7.50 for anything under £40. If you order before 12 noon, you will also qualify for next day UK delivery.

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Rich, warming and handmade, these are a delicious treat for dinnertime

This small hand-cut pork pie company is basied in Petersfield and has a simple menu of individuals pies costing £3.50 and a family-size version for £32.

Made with freshly chopped, locally sourced free-range pork and seasoned with sea salt and pepper, it’s comfort food at its finest. 

Only delivering locally in Petersfield, until it finds a replacement postal serivec,  email jake@jakesartisanfoods.co.uk to place an order. We’d recommend buying big to get your money’s worth of pie.

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With meat, fish, vegetarian and vegan fillings, there’s something for everyone

In Scotland, Jarvis Pickle Pies run a service called “Pies By Post”,  delivering its handmade meat, fish, vegetarian and vegan pastry pockets, which is free when you order 12 or more from its online shop. 

Available in batches of four, eight, 12 or 16, fillings include Moroccan lamb, beef and ale, spinach and goat cheese, vegan cauliflower curry and more. All are made fresh, and you will need to order by midnight on Thursdays to qualify for delivery the following week, anywhere in the UK.

If you buy four pies, Jarvis Pickle Pies will donate one pie to FareShare, a charity tackling food waste, which will distribute them to vulnerable people such as homeless hostels, community groups and food banks.

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Expand your culinary repertoire with prime cuts of beef, lamb or pork

For meat-lovers, head to Turner & George, whose small team of butchers have curated a British reared menu from independent farms. 

The meat is dry-ageg in-house and the team make their own sausages and burgers. Its staples box should be enough to see you through a few weeks, which features a whole herb fed chicken, four pork loin chops, four lambs T-bones, six breakfast sausages, back bacon and 500g of ground beef. 

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Go all out for your next Sunday roast

Southwark based butchery, The Ginger Pig, is also catering to the masses with its cuts of beef, lamb and pork, as well as its baked goods which is all available for delivery across the UK. Taken from British livestock, we’ve got our eye on the boned and rolled lamb shoulder for our next Sunday dinner, £37.50 for 2.25kg. 

Pricey yes, but a nice way treat for a special dinner, maybe an anniversary or birthday stuck indoors? Deliveries are between Tuesday and Saturday, with a standard fee of £10, or if your order is over £100, it’s free. 

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Support this family-run business with your next food shop

Further south you’ll find Phillip Warren Butchers in Cornwall which specialise in British reared cattle, but also has poultry, bacon, lamb and burgers. 

The family-run butchery is also a meat supplier to around 20 Michelin starred restaurants, including Rick Stein’s Bistro in Padstow

It will deliver across England for £9.99, so to get your money’s worth of meat, we’d suggest getting a big order in. 

Or, if you spend more than £100, delivery is free, with all deliveries guaranteed to arrive by midday, dispatched on the next working day. 

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Make lockdown 3.0 a little easier with our food and drink guides

The online wine shops and vineyards still delivering 

Recreate your favourite restaurant dishes with these DIY meal kits

The fine dining restaurants offering delivery services

Get these subscription food boxes delivered to your doorstep

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