About Us
We believe passionately that in buying locally we are doing the right thing, both for our health, our local community and the environment. This used to require dedication and organisation. We still sometimes found ourselves drawn to the bright lights of the ‘one stop shop’ supermarkets. We thought there must be a way of making it easier for everyone to buy local produce. And that was it, what was clearly missing was convenience.
Farmers Markets generally happen once a month or mid-week. Some local produce finds
its way into smaller community stores, and even now some of the larger supermarkets, but it has to be available 24/7 for a more demanding modern customer. And most importantly, the customer must have the opportunity to buy a whole range of local & ethical produce that fills their whole weekly basket.
We are realistic enough to know that not everything can be produced on our doorstep, so
we believe in supporting our local shops. We all depend on the community that is closest to home, and surely it makes sense to support local businesses who will in turn re-invest back in to the local economy.
In June 2006 we were awarded with the Farmers Weekly Magazine ‘Food Miles Hero’ certificate for a business making a difference to lower food miles, something we feel passionately about. Shortly followed in October 2006 by Bedfordshire County Council awarding us with the ‘Tastes of Bedfordshire’ Food Mark for our commitment to the local supply chain in our area.
In 2007, speaking at the Oxford Farming Conference, Conservative Party Leader David
Cameron cited buy-LOCAL.net as an example of an ethical and sustainable community business- “buy-LOCAL.net is putting local producers and shoppers together and creating a market based on consumer demand.”
In May 2007 we were delighted to have been Gala Finalists in Shell’s ‘liveWIRE’competition for Young Entrepreneurs, recognising what we had achieved over the last 18 months. Stu Anderson of Shell gave buy-LOCAL his vote of confidence
by stating we have “An excellent and well researched sustainable business model with a
genuine and positive social impact” In September 2007 we were ‘Highly
Commended’ in the East of England Tourism ‘Enjoy England Awards for Excellence’, and were one of the final 50 companies in the 2007 ‘Run the Gauntlet’ Competition. In November 2007 we were winners in our local media groups ‘Rising Stars’ Competition of the ‘New Business of the Year Award’ and Highly Commended in the ‘www Business of the Year 2007’, as well as being one of five companies short listed for the
overall ‘Company of the Year’ Award.
2008 followed in the success of 2007 by receiving the Bright Sparcs Award for
Integration of Technology into Business and runner up for Entrepreneur of the Year Award.At National level, buy-LOCAL has appeared on the popular BBC series’, Ready, Steady Cook and Dragon’s Den as well as Radio 4’s Farming Today
program. We had further success in the 2008 ‘Rising Stars’ Awards as Highly Commended ‘Retail Business of the Year’ and Winner of the ‘www Business of the Year’ 2008.
In 2009 we are now growing the business through franchising with hubs established in Hertfordshire, Northants and Oxfordshire…with hopefully more to come as we spread the buy-LOCAL message across the UK!
Rick and Lisa
buy-LOCAL.net – Home Delivery of Local Food that’s Better by Miles!