Essential News

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  Essential News

  Essential's Greener Futures Open Day is a Roaring Success!

  Essential’s Greener Futures Open Day took place in Bristol on Sunday 24th September 2023, with over 70 exhibitors, almost 200 attendees, food and drink provided by local vendors, and live entertainment.

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  Product News

  Featured Supplier: Caroboo

  Caroboo is made up of a lively and dedicated team of (mostly) women who are spreading the good carob news everywhere they go. From their dedicated sales director to their marketing team to their founders Charlotte and Darran, both of which you can meet at the Essential Greener Futures Open Day on the 24th September.

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  Customer News

  Simply Green #SupportOurIndependents

  We have reached our 10th episode of #SupportOurIndependents! This month Essential visited Bethan at Simply Green in Nailsea. We spoke about Plastic Free July, what barriers may prevent customers from shopping sustainably, and what can be done to make zero-waste shopping more accessible.

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  Charity News

  Meet Nova; Essential & Harvest's Unicorn in the Bristol Unicornfest 2023

  Essential is delighted to be involved in the Bristol Unicorn Festival 2023, a nine-week-long sculpture trail across Bristol to uplift spirits for a good cause. The Essential Unicorn Nova looks fabulous opposite our Harvest shop.

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  Product News

  Featured Supplier: Belvoir Farm

  Premium soft drinks, Crafted with Nature; that’s what Belvoir Farm is all about. Refreshingly real and reassuringly delicious, there’s artistry in Belvoir Farm still cordials and lightly sparkling soft drinks. Each are made using simple ingredients, carefully selected – including organic elderflower – with natural fruits, hand-picked flowers, fresh juices and spices. Belvoir are true to nature and let the ingredients do the talking.

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  Customer News

  Fox & West #SupportOurIndependents

  In our 9th episode of #SupportOurIndependents, Essential visited Fox & West in Bristol. Area Manager Jazz spoke to Lee about what it means to be a small business and describes the supportive community that Fox & West have in Totterdown.

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  Local News

  Sims Hill Shared Harvest

  Essential is proud to support Sims Hill Shared Harvest, a grassroots farm and community that grows fresh produce for people in Bristol.

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  Product News

  Featured Supplier: Friendly Soap

  Our featured supplier is Friendly Soap; an award winning, 20 strong team dedicated to the sustainable manufacture of vegan soap, shampoo and shaving bars in the beautiful hills of West Yorkshire.

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  Customer News

  Herbivore Vegan Deli #SupportOurIndependents

  Quite possibly the world's smallest vegan deli, Herbivore Vegan Deli opened its doors just before Christmas in Wapping Wharf in Bristol. Store owner Janice speaks to Lee at Essential about the rise of veganism, the difficulties local businesses face and how she decides what to stock in such a small retail space.

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  Charity News

  Essential sign up to the Business Without Blood Sports pledge

  Essential are among the 125 companies that have signed the Business Without Blood Sports pledge with Britain's leading animal charity League Against Cruel Sports

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  Essential News

  Planting trees in memory of much-loved colleagues

  We’re teaming up with the charity project Trees for Streets to green Bristol, our home city, through tree planting. This partnership is personal, as it honours much-loved colleagues who have sadly passed away.

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  Show News

  Natural & Organic Products Europe 2023

  Essential were delighted to be back at the largest organic and natural trade show in Europe

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  Customer News

  Just1Swap #SupportOurIndependents

  At the end of February, Lee from Essential travelled to Boscombe in sunny Bournemouth to meet Ellen at Just1Swap. Ellen spoke to us about how the opening of Just1Swap came about, dispelling the myth that zero waste stores are expensive compared to chain supermarkets, and the difficult times ahead for small business owners.

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  Customer News

  Churchtown Stores #SupportOurIndependents

  Our 6th episode of #SupportOurIndependents has arrived and just in time in for St. Piran’s Day in Cornwall on Sunday 5th March 2023! We visited Churchtown Stores in St. Agnes, Cornwall, at the beginning of the year and spoke with new owner Marie about how the rich culture and heritage of Cornwall shapes the business. She also told us about the local community and what it means to them, as well as how being a local fruit and vegetable grower led to her acquiring the much-loved store.

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  Customer News

  Christine's Sustainable Supermarket #SupportOurIndependents

  For our fifth #SupportOurIndependents episode, we visited Christine's Sustainable Supermarket in Bradford-on-Avon. Christine spoke to us about supporting small businesses over supermarkets, the importance of eco-conscious shopping, and what it means to be your own boss.

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  Product News

  Plantside Vegan Yorkshire Puddings – No more missing out!

  Introducing Plantside; the creators of the new and massively popular frozen vegan yorkshire pudding range!

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  Charity News

  Essential Supporting Charities Over Christmas

  During what can be the hardest time of the year for some, Essential worked with charities such as Marmalade Trust, St Michael’s Maternity Hospital Bristol, FareShare South West, The Hatch Camphill Community, and Eastville Park Food Club over the festive period.

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  Customer News

  Swindon Pulse Wholefoods #SupportOurIndependents

  In December 2022, we visited Swindon Pulse Wholefoods for our fourth episode of #SupportOurIndependents. They spoke to us about the history of the co-operative, how they have had to adapt as a result of the global coronavirus pandemic, and what lies ahead for Swindon Pulse Wholefoods.

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  Charity News

  Living Wage Week 2022

  Essential Trading are proud to be a Living Wage employer and we believe it's now more important than ever to pay employees the National Living Wage.

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  Product News

  Black Salt: Everything You Need to Know

  Himalayan Black Salt (also known as kala namak) is a popular vegan ingredient. It adds an eggy taste which makes it perfect for tofu scrambles.

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  Customer News

  Iechyd Da @ CF14 #SupportOurIndependents

  In our third episode of #SupportOurIndependents, Lee sat down with Alwen from Iechyd Da @ CF14. She spoke about the importance of locally supplied food, what the local community means to them and what is was like to be open during the height of the COVID pandemic.

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  Charity News

  Proud to Support FareShare South West

  Read about the fantastic work that FareShare South West have been doing this year and Essential’s involvement.

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  Product News

  Pricing Change – Essential Organic Tomato Range

  Important update regarding the pricing of Essential branded tinned tomatoes, passata and tomato concentrate.

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  Product News

  Vitam-R Yeast Extract

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  Essential News

  Introducing Our New Feature: Support Our Independents

  We have started a new campaign to raise awareness of great independent businesses near you. We’ll be showcasing exactly what they have to offer, celebrating what it means to be a local independent business, what makes them flourish, and the wonderful people that help to make their communities a better place.

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  Product News

  Hail Seitan! The New Vegan Meat Alternative That Is Going Viral

  Here at Essential Trading, we're shining a spotlight on the meat-free alternative everyone is talking about. Make a deal with the devil himself and experiment with versatile new recipes that are guaranteed to impress at the dinner table.

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  Show News

  Natural Organic Products Europe 2022

  Following a two-year hiatus due to Covid, one of the world's largest and most renowned organic food festivals once again returned to London's Excel in April. As certified organic pioneers, Essential have historically featured at the event and 2022 was no exception. Customers, guests and simply those wishing to learn more about the sector and try some of our produce were treated over the two-day event.

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  Essential News

  The National Allotment Society Q and A with Di Appleyard

  With winter fading and the first signs of spring beginning to show, it’s time to put on your gardening glad rags and hit the allotment again (unless you’re the hard core bunch who’ve not stopped visiting throughout the winter.. in which case, carry on!). The ground has been hard for months and it may have seemed like nothing would ever grow again.  But fear not, the soil begins to warm up a little during February and it is actually a great time to get your fingers green (and brown) once more.  But what to do and where to look..?

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  Charity News

  Viva! Channel 4 Advert

  This Valentine’s Day, a new controversial TV advert, created by vegan charity Viva!, will premier on Channel 4 and its associated networks.

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  Essential News

  Solar PV Installation Commences

  It's round two of green energy solutions for Essential Trading!

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  Global News

  The Zapatista Coffee Community

  Read about the indigenous people of the Chiapas, their struggles for equality and the fine blend of coffee that is one result.

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  Product News

  Trending in 2022

  Want to know what's going to be trending in the food sector in 2022? The rise in vegan and vegetarian dishes and produce is set to continue and Essential will be there to support your dietary requirements!

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  Product News

  Ecover News

  Essential's 40 year relationship with Ecover has recently been reviewed following the manufacturer's update on their GMO-free products.

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  Product News

  Gherkins

  A bad harvest in Southern Germany affects gherkin supplies across Europe.

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  Essential News

  Farewell to our wonderful Jaspa

  After 32-years with Essential Trading, we mourn the passing of our friend and wonderful Buyer, Jaspa Beese

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  Essential News

  Master Thesis

  Andreea Preluca's in-depth study into co-operative organisations.

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  Charity News

  Essential support for the Bristol Local Food Fund

  Essential trading have been a key supporter in the Bristol Local Food Fund's campaign to tackle food insecurity in the city.

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  Product News

  Organic September

  The Soil Association's Organic September month is back again, bigger and better than ever before.

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  Essential News

  50 Years in the Making

  Essential Trading celebrate a momentous anniversary.