Local Suppliers
Tapp’d Cocktails
The world’s only organic fruit bottled cocktail.
Mixologist quality bottled cocktails made in Leigh-on-Sea.
Tooty Fruity
We started our family business back in 2005, with the mission of supplying delicious snacks from around the world. We’ve been doing just that ever since.
In the process we’ve tried to keep our carbon footprint as light as possible, minimising waste and our use of energy. We calculate our carbon emissions and offset them.
Horizon Foods
Wholefood retailers and wholesalers to Norwich, East Anglia and beyond since 1976
A champion of organic produce and green non-foods (amongst other things) we sell over 2,500 wonderful products from the heart of Norwich (a fine City). 100% vegetarian and 100% GM free.
Muffin Makery
The Muffin Makery is based in South Essex and started by Kelly & Kat in 2014.
Kelly & Kat met at University studying Fine Art & both graduated in 2011.
Our love of Art & baking with great ingredients cemented the partnership, which is now The Muffin Makery……….
The recipes for our Muffins are top secret, so encouraged by customer demand in 2016 we developed a ‘Home baking range of Free From Muffin Mixes’, to make ‘Free From’ muffin making easy, opening up a new world of creative baking.
Kings Seeds
Welcome to Kings Seeds, a leading supplier of vegetable seeds, flowers seeds, organic vegetable seeds, herbs seeds, Sweet Pea seeds, fruit trees and various Plug plants, from the traditional home of the British seed industry, in Kelvedon, who have been supplying commercial & retail growers since 1888. Essex has been the centre of English seed production for many centuries. Its climate and rainfall are ideal for raising plants and taking them through the growing cycle to obtain the highest quality of seed.
We like to think we have survived this long as all our seeds are tested in our own laboratory, by a qualified technician, for germination, vigour and purity, before being packed and distributed worldwide.
Greek Olive Company
The Greek Olive Company and The Black Dog Chili Company are a small, family run business based near the coast in Suffolk. We have the passion and ability to create amazing flavours together with an instinctive way of combining ingredients. We produce everything from chili jams that are bursting with fresh flavours of habaneros and truly hot, to subtle spice mixes that delicately flavour our beautiful olives.
Our aim is to make great products that are full of flavour and that you will find superb time after time. We are dedicated to top quality and consistency and hope that when you try us, you’ll agree time and again.
Fatherson Bakery
Delicious, award winning, handmade cakes, lovingly produced by traditional bakers using the finest storeroom ingredients. A taste of homemade.
Founding date: November 2007
Awards
Great Taste Gold 2009 & 2010 – Lemon Drizzle Loaf
Great Taste Gold 2010- Banoffee & Pecan Loaf
Great Taste Gold 2011- Carribean Loaf
Great Taste Gold 2014 – Luxury Mince Pies
HEFF Diamond Award 2009 – Lemon Drizzle Loaf
HEFF Diamond Award 2010- Ginger & Lemon Loaf
Essex Garden Foods
The Essex Garden Foods journey began four years ago when Polish national Marcin Bartkowiak, a proud Essex resident of over ten years, decided to pursue his passion and become an entrepreneur. Marcin, a landscape architect by trade, decided to turn the sauce recipes he had made for years for family and friends, into a business.
The sauce samples he sent for laboratory testing were approved and he set about creating his business in Chelmsford, his home town in the heart of Essex. The strong historical and rural character of the county gave him the inspiration to create his range of artisan condiment sauces. Marcin believes his product brand name, ‘Proper Classic’ encapsulates the essence of Essex.
Essex Garden Foods is a member of ‘A Taste of Anglia’, the organisation that supports and promotes the food and drink industry across the country. The company also has been supported by the Essex Innovation Programme, a not-for-profit enterprise agency, that provide total business support and help businesses get off the ground.
Facebook: @EssexGardenFoods
Instagram: @EssexGardenFoods
Cupcake Daisy
Cupcake Daisy pride themselves on using locally sourced ingredients including fresh free range eggs straight from the farm, local Marriages flour and making their own home grown fruit preserves for the yummy centres. They also use high quality cocoa chocolate for a rich decadent flavour in their delicious chocolate treats.
Cupcake Daisy feel its not just about pretty frosting, they also want to give you flavour combinations that really make your tongue tingle with delight.
Facebook: @CupcakeDaisy
Twitter: @CupcakeDaisy1
Instagram: @DaisyCake1
Crouch Vale Brewery
Crouch Vale Brewery was established in 1981 by two real ale enthusiasts. Although now well-established, it is a small independent company committed to the brewing and supply of the finest cask-conditioned ales. Situated close to the River Crouch in Essex, the company provides a regular weekly supply service throughout its home county and also South Suffolk, Cambridge, East Hertfordshire and East London.
In addition to the brewing and sale of beers, they are also one of the largest wholesalers of other brewers’ cask conditioned beers in the Eastern Counties. They are particularly interested in providing a route to market for other East Anglian suppliers. They believe that this type of reciprocal trading through an informal, friendly network should be the cornerstone of a small brewer’s success.
“We are especially pleased that our beers are on sale in various Chelmsford Star Co-op stores because they are increasing the availability of our products to local people, in their local stores.” – Colin J. Bocking
Facebook: @CrouchValeBrewery
Twitter: @CrouchVale
Cook
COOK Kitchen in Sittingbourne, Kent is like no other. It takes 300 people, working day and night, with immense care and pride, to create their meals.
Chaning the way frozen food is made, they source the ingredients, cook them, freeze them, pack and label them, transport and sell them. In fact, COOK Kitchen make nearly all the products they sell (93%). No ingredient enters the kitchen unless they are 100% happy with it. They also only work with suppliers who share their high standards regarding provenance and sustainability.
Facebook: @TheCookKitchen
Twitter: @TheCookKitchen
Instagram: @TheCookKitchen
Adnams
Established in 1872, Adnams is probably best-known as a brewer of beer in the coastal town of Southwold in Suffolk.
Whilst brewing remains at the heart of Adnams, they also make a range of award-winning spirits from the same locally-sourced grains as they make their beers.
Their values are rooted in making great products without costing the earth. From working with local farmers and producers who supply their brewery, through to partnering with a local business to install an anaerobic digestion plant to turn brewery and food waste into biogas.
“We’re proud to run our business sustainably and with huge passion and care, supported by ever-evolving technology, to make great products and create memorable and fun experiences for our customers.”
Facebook: @Adnams
Twitter: @Adnams
Instagram: @Adnams
Wicks Manor Pork
“Made on our Farm” Established in 1967, we produce dry cured bacon, sausages, burgers, ham, gammons and pork on our family run pig farm near Maldon.
“Proud of our Quality” Our facility is BRC Grade A approved to ensure you receive our Premium Maldon product at it’s best every time.
Verstegen
Our range of Micro Sauces have been developed using only the finest quality herbs and spices. We understand that both quality and convenience play an important part in today’s modern eating experience, which is why we have created such a delicious range of sauces in less wasteful portion sizes and in containers that can be heated in a matter of seconds.
Shaken Udder Milkshakes
Shaken Udder Milkshakes are a magnificent herd of delicious milkshakes made with fresh British milk and real fruit or chocolate. What’s more they contain no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives.
Shaken Udder started life back in 2004 as Jodie and Howie’s dream to produce Britain’s Best Milkshakes and they haven’t looked back! Best of all they are delicious, so go on and give them a try.
Rossi Ice Cream
Since 1932 Rossi have been producing Award Winning Flavours, including the ‘Gold Award’ for the top lemon sorbet in the UK and many diplomas throughout the years and were Highly Commended as Essex Food Producer of the Year in 2012.
Products we currently stock in store…125ml/500ml/1 litre tubs. Available in 15 flavours.
Kings Seeds
Essex has been the centre of English seed production for many centuries. Its climate and rainfall are ideal for raising plants and taking them through the growing cycle to obtain the highest quality of seed.
Kings have been following that process for over a hundred years. On our farm of some 300 acres, we have been selecting and maintaining seed stocks longer than most. We are now unique in that Kings is the last surviving wholesale horticultural seed merchant in the country.
We supply seed to commercial growers of flowers and vegetables, wholesale to large users of seed and to the home gardener through our seed packets. Whichever type of customer Kings are supplying they all have one thing in common; they all receive the same fine quality seed.
There have been many changes over the hundred years of our company’s existence and there will be many more in the next hundred but quality of the highest standard is one thing that has never changed at Kings and never will in the future.
Ken Green Fish
We are a Fish Merchant who supplies to retail and wholesale customers. We specialise in smoked fish which we smoke ourselves from our premises in Clacton.
Fiveways Fruit Farm
Fiveways Fruit Farm is a local farm situated in Stanway which sells Strawberries, Raspberries, Blueberries, Cherries, Apples, Asparagus and Christmas Trees.
We supply selected Chelmsford Star Co-op stores with Essex strawberries & raspberries.
Elixirs of Life
Natural skin, hair &body care products providing a total alternative to mass produced commercial products.
All of Elixirs of Life hand-made products have been sent to a recognised laboratory for testing, they made been analysed and certification has been granted stating they are safe to use on the skin.
DC Williamson
Founded in 2000 by Craig and Gail Williamson, D.C. Williamson Ltd is an innovative soft fruit farm that is situated on the Essex/Suffolk borders. Barn Farm as it is also known, grows the fresh fruit ingredients to create Barn Farm Drinks.
The farm boasts 120 acres of soft fruits from strawberries and raspberries to rhubarb and redcurrants. D C Williamson Ltd is able to offer frozen and chilled fruit storage. With robust stock control systems and monitored temperature control, to assure customers that the quality of their products will be maintained.
Dan Hull
Dan Hull provides a range of handmade pies, ready meals, coleslaw, parfait and cooked meats which are all handmade with quality, local ingredients.
They pride themselves on the food they make – every day food, handmade to perfection. Innovation is at the heart of what they do and they are constantly looking at ways to improve flavours and the products they offer.
Facebook: @DanHullQuality
Twitter: @DanHullQuality
Instagram: @DanHullQuality
Broad Oak Farm Sausage Co.
Broad Oak Farm are a 3rd generation family run business in Hatfield Broad Oak that has nearly 50 years experience in making quality sausages, hams and beef burgers in their BRC accredited factory. They work closely with local suppliers and have been proudly serving Chelmsford Star Co-operative for over 9 years.
They offer a wide range of sausage varieties, Aberdeen Angus Beef Burgers and sliced ham all made with fully traceable British meat and locally produced seasonings.
“At Broad Oak Farm, we enjoy working in partnership with the Chelmsford Star Co-op, especially their values, integrity and honesty dealing with local suppliers” – Chris Simons
Brentwood Brewery Company
Brewing in Brentwood, Essex, was restarted in 2006 when the Brentwood Brewing Company was set up by Roland Kannor & Dave Holmes. The town has a long history of brewing and malting reaching back to around 1700.
Today, they are a multi-award winning real ale micro brewery producing a wide range of draught and bottled beers. Having moved to a brand new brewery they can now increase production and take the business to a new level.
All the beer produced by the Brentwood Brewing Company is gluten free, vegan friendly and all waste products are recycled.
Facebook: @BrentwoodBrewCo
Twitter: @BrentwoodBrewCo
Instagram: @BrentwoodBrewCo
Bishop Nick
Bishop Nick is an Essex-based craft brewery with an impressive history that spans over three centuries. Way back in Tudor times Bishop Nicholas Ridley burned his name into history by being martyred for sticking to his beliefs. Fast-forward to 1842 and the Ridleys made history again, only this time firing-up the kettles to create the finest brews in Essex. Today, they have six generations of brewing in their blood, peddling ales and tales of Bishop Nick.
“We have been supplying Chelmsford Star Co-op stores since Christmas 2014. Their championing of local producers has given us the opportunity to place our range of bottled ales in front of a much wider audience than might otherwise been available to us. They have always been open to taking on new and seasonal products. They empathise with the financial constraints that small businesses face and have provided business support and networking opportunities.” Nelion Ridley – Director, Bishop Nick
Facebook: @BishopNickAle
Twitter: @BishopNick
Instagram: @BishopNickAle
Peacocks Bakeries
We produce a wide variety of fresh crusty breads, rolls, cakes and morning goods. Our commitment to you is to provide a high quality product and a reliable friendly service to all our customers.
