The Postal Pantry Co. is a family-run online grocery store based in Ashburton. They’re a small team who are all hands on in every single aspect of the business, but all have their main strengths. The younger members include; Cal (20) who created and manages the website, Lydia (18) who helps with the Instagram page as well as creating recipes, and Jake (26) who is responsible for Facebook and other marketing activities.
They are absolutely thrilled to have just won the 2020/21 Food Drink Devon Business of the Year award, which is such a big achievement.
They deliver locally across South Devon 7 days a week and nationally via courier, providing quality food, drink and eco-friendly household products that minimise the impact on the planet. They offer customers all their usual pantry essentials, including a great range of organic, vegan, veggie and gluten free. This allows customers to shop locally for their fresh produce such as fruit, vegetables, eggs and milk. They stock over 1400 products, including well-known brands such as Biona, Mr Organic, Doves Farm Flour, Clipper, Pukka, Ecover, Suma, Meridian, Lily’s Kitchen, Eco Living and more. Their product ranges include:
• Rice, Pasta, Pulses & Cereals
• Sugar, Flour & Home Baking
• Tins, Jars & Sauces
• Cooking Ingredients, Oils & Vinegar
• Sweets & Chocolate
• Crisps, Snacks, Dried Fruit & Nuts
• Tea, Coffee & Soft Drinks
• Jam, Honey & Spreads
• Eco-Friendly Household & Personal Care
Having started during the Coronavirus lockdown, an especially challenging time for small local businesses, they know it’s vital to keep them thriving. With the big retailers taking the majority market share with online shopping, The Postal Pantry Co. hope to take some of this back for smaller local producers. At present, they also support local producers such as Stone’s Honey, The Bay Tree, Voyager Coffee, Foxcombe Bakehouse, Otter Vale Chutneys, Heron Valley, Devonia Water and local key worker, Sarah, who handcrafts reusable face masks. As they grow, they will continue to support other local producers.
When sending orders to outside of the home delivery area, they use the local Ashburton Post Office and all orders use 100% recyclable, plastic-free packaging which can either be reused, returned or recycled.
When ordering with The Postal Pantry Co., on their green energy hosted website, not only do they hope it will help those who continue to self-isolate but also contribute to the reduction of individuals carbon footprint and avoiding the seemingly endless amount of unnecessary plastic packaging. They try to avoid the usual multi-packs and buys, to avoid further unnecessary packaging and purchases. Every short hop to the supermarket and additional plastic bag used adds up, so they’re doing what they can to help make shopping a greener and simpler way to becoming a conscious consumer. The aim in the future as they grow is to have electric vans to deliver orders to further develop their eco-credentials.
As a team of young people aware of the damage being done to the environment, they saw a need for change regarding consumerism and excessive waste packaging created as a result. So they stock products which are either in recyclable or biodegradable packaging wherever possible. For the few that aren’t yet easily recyclable in the curb-side (as councils have different policies), they’re able to take these back and return to the supplier who recycles them into new products, such as green wheely bins.
They allow any customer to order by phone, so this allows the less technically minded individuals, such as the elderly (who are especially vulnerable during these times), to benefit from their service. Customer support is provided 7 days a week via email, phone and live chat, allowing customers to easily get in touch.
They have recently introduced donations to their local food bank, the ‘Ashburton Larder’. On their website, they have added the ability for our customers either to choose items to add to their own orders (as much or as little as they like) that will be donated on their behalf to the food bank or to add a pre-made bundle of items they have created based on what the food bank most need on a regular basis. As well as this, essential items from The Postal Pantry Co. will also be donated to the food bank on a regular basis. With the added help from customers, they hope to be able to provide a consistent supply of essentials to the food bank on a regular basis in order to support those in need in these especially difficult times.
Customers can easily order the website, at www.postalpantry.co.uk or over the phone, by calling 01364 700201.
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