UK couple launch new online marketplace for local food producers

Amidst the coronavirus crisis, a couple from Somerset, UK, have started a new online marketplace that connects shops and food suppliers with their local communities to ensure smaller food businesses are kept afloat during these difficult times.

Foodens allows businesses to list food boxes for sale for both collection and delivery, in order to distribute food across the UK in a safe, zero-contact manner.

The non-profit is run by Rob and Anna Kerry, who said: “We started Foodens as a way for people to receive a reliable source of food, without queueing at supermarkets and whilst also supporting independent local businesses. We want to keep local food suppliers afloat through Covid-19, whilst also stopping the panic buying and mass gatherings at supermarkets.”

The online marketplace will offer services for suppliers such as farm shops, butchers, patisseries, fruit and veg wholesalers, ready meal companies, restaurants and anything in between. The company welcomes anyone who can provide local people with food, in accordance with Food Standards regulation.

Rob Kerry commented: “People get into a habit of shopping in major supermarkets and that habit is hard to break. It’s only now that people are realising how fragile our food infrastructure is. We are reliant on just a few brands like Tesco, Asda, Sainsburys and Morrisons, leading to huge queues and greater demand than can be supplied. At the same time, our local Butchers and Greengrocers are empty of people and full of the food those people want and need at this time.

“We know that this service is needed now and hope that Foodens will live on as a key source of food and supplies for years to come. Even if just a fraction of people’s weekly shop went through Foodens, it would make a sizeable difference to local food suppliers, who would otherwise miss out on this much needed revenue.”

Foodens.com is run by the Foodens Foundation, a non-profit organisation. Retailers are not charged for joining or listing their products, however there is a 10% transaction fee on any orders taken. This covers card payment fees and operational costs. Any profit is reinvested into Foodens or used to support other food initiatives.

Rob Kerry stated: “Foodens is a labour of love, rather than a profit-making machine. After covering operating costs, we’d like to start offering discounts to key/critical workers. We would also look at supporting Food Banks. Right now, the priority is just giving a reliable food supply to as many people as possible.”

To sign up a business on Foodens, visit: https://www.foodens.com/en-GB/signup