Aardvark Alternatives is an independent, family-owned organic emporium and as such it offers the savvy Welsh shopper a more personal means of shopping for groceries locally; with the benefit of supporting a small-scale business in the local community. With a strong emphasis on fairly traded, ethically sourced and local products, Aardvark Alternatives allows its customers to shop without the worry of a negative global impact. So, for a guilt free shopping experience check out Aardvark Alternatives.
To describe the full selection of products stocked on the shelves of the Aardvark Alternatives emporium would be impossible. Here is just a few randomly selected suppliers, let’s firstly look at crisps
Trafo yummy crisps are 100% organic thanks to their passion and ideals. Those ideals are based on their realisation that current intensive farming methods are no longer sustainable and that if we want the world to remain liveable for ourselves and our children, sustainable and organic farming is the only way.
This has been their message for more than 30 years and, together with other passionate enthusiasts (farmers, producers, retail players), they contributed to laying the foundations for what is now referred to as the natural food channel. With pride and full of ambition, they continue to build on this piece of history, fully convinced that they are contributing to a better world.
Confectionary
Not a major line for Aardvark Alternatives but enjoying a treat is so much better when the ethics behind it are good.
Seed & Bean is 10% off
Seed & Bean was founded in June 2005 with the idea to create an ethical range of confectionery. The focus was on always using organic ingredients, using small-scale suppliers and being brave and wild with flavours; Chocolate with a Wild Side.
The name Seed and Bean came from the initial chocolate concept which was covering seeds and beans in chocolate. From there they evolved to chocolate bars, similar to what they do today
Seed and Bean is 100% organic; Fairtrade where possible, and all their products are ethically sourced and handmade in England. Their production facility is deliberately small: their batch size is just 45 litres, compared to large industrially-produced chocolatiers who make batches of 20-50,000 litres a batch! When it comes to chocolate, they really are chocolate artisans.
Sauces and Condiments
Aardvark Alternatives like to support local but taste needs to be a priority as well.
Pencae Mawr
Many of you already know Pete and Helen and their fantastic range of jams and chutneys. For those who don’t they were inspired by the wild and beautiful environment of the Welsh hills around them, their tasty organic chutneys and jams and their naturally beautiful wool products are expressions of their ethical and ecological views: sustainable, vegetarian and cruelty free.
Again local as much as can be achieved but the ethical and organic origins are crucial for Aardvark Alternatives
Fruit and Vegetables
Todays focus is a little different as we are covering our two main suppliers of fruit and vegetables. Firstly a little about Watson & Pratt’s and how it came into being as it is the latest incarnation of a longstanding organic presence in Lampeter.
In the 70s many of the organic pioneers came to West Wales. Inspired by John Seymour and the drive for sustainable food production they established holdings here – some growing vegetables others milking cows. These pioneers were some of the first organic producers in the UK. As interest in organic food grew throughout Britain a pack house was established in Lampeter. And it got bigger and bigger. Supplying many of the supermarkets it expanded and soon was not only buying from organic producers throughout Wales but also from Europe and beyond. In the nineties to source the supermarkets the original business relocated to Evesham leaving behind a small local organic fruit & vegetable wholesaler. This became The Organic Fresh Food Company which was bought by Ben Pratt and Lucy Watson in 2011 whose business is now known as Watson & Pratts who have expanded the business from 11 employees to over 30.
Our second supplier Ceredigion Salads are a small scale organic market garden based in Llangwyryfon, mid-Wales. They work with nature to produce healthy soils and ecosystems which work in harmony to grow nutritional produce, free from artificial pesticides and herbicides.
Dairy
Aardvark Alternatives try and cater for all dairy and non dairy needs such as Unsweetened Organic Soya Drink but this focuses on cows milk.
Calon Wen
Our first local company is Calon Wen; a group of 25 organic family run farms across Wales who believe in providing exceptional organic products that taste great and are sustainably produced. Their dedicated farmers like to keep things simple, ensuring the cows are properly looked after and graze on the fresh, clover rich pastures which have not been treated with sprays or chemicals. They pay their farmers for the quality as well as the quantity of milk they produce, which means their farmers are not pushed towards high yielding systems.
Calon Wen is now a leading brand in Wales, supplying both supermarkets and many independent retailers across Wales.
Now Open! The Aardvark Lounge – Cosy seating space to enjoy Aardvark Alternatives’s Organic & Fairly traded coffee or to grab a bite to eat. Local Artwork is on display alongside candles, gifts and other local and ethical crafts.
