We’re incredibly grateful to all of our customers who have supported Better Food and our teams in store over this challenging time by continuing to shop responsibly.

We see it as our responsibility, and our privilege, to use the connections we’ve built over many years with the very best local food producers to make sure we can continue to serve our community, and that enough food is available for everyone.

Here are our tips on how small changes in behaviour will make a big difference, not just in the current challenge but for the future of our planet…

Hate waste

We cannot stand waste here at Better Food. Everything we do is geared around keeping it to the absolute minimum.

– We use up vegetables that aren’t quite at their prime, but still very tasty, to make the soup for our store teams. Can you do this with your older veg from the week?

– We rotate stock on our shelves and in our fridges to make sure the oldest is used first and doesn’t expire. This could be an easy way of minimising waste at home.

– We produce food for our café (currently takeaway) to order, so we only use exactly what we need. Plan your meals for the week in advance to achieve the same for your household.

Buy in season

The advantages of buying produce (especially fruit and vegetables) in season are numerous; it’s generally much cheaper, tastes better, and is in plentiful supply – so there’s enough to go around for everyone. Ask one of our team what’s currently in season.

Buy local

Supporting the best local producers has always been hugely important to us. Right now, it means so much more. Every loaf of bread that you buy from a local artisan (whether it’s from Better Food or one of dozens of great local bakers) helps someone in your local community. It’s not possible to spend every bit of your food budget with local suppliers, but every penny you do will do good and help to ensure that the brilliant producers we rely upon and love will be here in the future.

Ask a neighbour if they need anything

If you know somebody who could benefit from you picking up some additional items for them when you shop, go for it. Even for the few products where we have temporarily restricted sales, we can make an exception if you let us know.

Don’t buy food you wouldn’t eat normally

Though it’s tempting to stock up on items for the store cupboard, the quickest way to return food supply to normal levels is to only buy what we need. In the early weeks, many of us bought food we might not normally buy, so we need to make sure that all these extra items get used up in good time. Get creative in the kitchen to cut food, energy and financial waste!

Write a shopping list

A bit like planning your weekly meals in advance, writing a shopping list can help to weed out those spur of the moment purchases that might lead to unused food festering in the cupboard.

Don’t shop whilst hungry

Our number one rule for food shopping. When we’re hungry our brains tell us to buy more. Some studies have even suggested that people who hit the shops whilst hungry spent an average of 60-70% more!

Keep it packaging-free

Don’t abandon your former good shopping habits! Although certain products are currently only available wrapped, we still have a wide range of unpackaged products in store helping you cut single-use waste every time you shop. Don’t forget your reusable bags, or grab a box at the till. And remember that every time you choose organic, you’re putting a little bit back into the planet!