Daily Bread Cambridge

25 March 2023

New products, News

What's in store for Easter at Daily Bread Co-operative - selection of our ethical, vegan, organic, and/or dairy-free Easter treats!

Daily Bread Cambridge

25 March 2023

New products, News

Easter products at Daily Bread

Happy Easter card with Raw Chocolate Company Easter egg.

Easter products display with items from Sweet Lounge, Coco Loco and Shared Earth.

Easter is just around the corner, and we're excited to highlight some of the products that we have on offer at Daily Bread. Whether you're looking for a special treat for yourself or a loved one, we've got you covered.

Booja Booja’s Easter Edition chocolates

Box of Booja Booja Easter edition chocolate truffles

Row of hand-painted Booja Booja Easter Eggs

Booja Booja’s Easter Edition chocolates are an indulgent treat made by hand with organic ingredients in Norfolk. These chocolates are free from dairy, gluten, and soy, making them suitable for vegans and those with dietary restrictions. The variety of flavours, such as Almond & Sea Salt Caramel, Rhubarb & Vanilla Fool, and Hazelnut Crunch Truffle, will satisfy any chocolate lover's cravings.

Montezuma's Chunky Chocolate Chicks

Yellow box of Montezuma's 8 Chunky Chocolate Chicks surrounded by a variety of Easter products.

If you're looking for something a little more playful, Montezuma's Chunky Chocolate Chicks are a fun and tasty option. They are made from high-quality dark chocolate and come in a cute box, making them a great gift for children and adults alike. They are free from colourings, gluten and gm and contain no palm oil. Plus, Montezuma's chocolate is ethically-sourced, so you can enjoy your treats with a clear conscience.

Raw Chocolate Company's handmade hazelnut-truffle filled Easter eggs

2 Raw Chocolate Company organic vegan hazelnut-truffle filled easter eggs with chocolate almond snack packs

The Raw Chocolate Company's handmade hazelnut-truffle-filled Easter eggs each come with a bag of chocolate almonds. These luxury eggs are vegan, organic, dairy-free, soy-free, and gluten free, with no refined sugar, are produced in an eco factory, and presented in fully compostable and recyclable packaging. Made with raw cacao and sweetened with coconut sugar, these eggs are a healthier option that still satisfies your sweet tooth.

Ananda's Plant-Based Marshmallow Smores Kit

Finally, for a unique, indulgent, and zero waste Easter treat, try Ananda's Plant-Based Marshmallow Smores Kit. This kit includes large vegan marshmallows and hand-baked biscuits (dipped in Belgian chocolate), allowing you to create your own delicious smores at home. Plus, the biscuit and marshmallow wrappers are made from natural, renewable resources, such as wood pulp, and are both biodegradable and compostable, so you can enjoy your treats without harming the planet.

Selection of Easter products at Daily Bread Co-operative Cambridge

We hope this selection of treats has whet your appetite for something delicious and ethical this Easter. Visit our shop to find these products and many more while stocks last!

Daily Bread Cambridge

1 March 2023

News, Events

Fairtrade Fortnight

Daily Bread Cambridge

1 March 2023

News, Events

Fairtrade Fortnight is an annual campaign promoting the concept of fair trade, encouraging consumers to consider choosing Fairtrade products. This year’s campaign highlights the urgent threat to the future of the foods we love and the livelihoods of the people who grow them as they face the worsening effects of climate crisis.

Then we have the current financial crisis, which, according to Fairtrade.org.uk “is taking a heavy toll on smallholder farmers and workers, with the costs of fuel, fertiliser and food all increasing beyond what is affordable. If they aren’t getting a fair price to cover their costs at this critical time, it means they won’t be able to grow food in the future.”

“Coffee, bananas and chocolate could soon be much more difficult to buy.”

— Fairtrade.org.uk

Fairtrade certification ensures that farmers and workers receive fair prices for their products, enabling them to invest in measures such as sustainable land use and water management that help towards mitigating and adapting to the impacts of climate change. Without our support for fairer prices today, farmers will find it even harder to tackle the climate and economic challenges of the future. 

Fairtrade Fortnight display table with products such as raw cane sugar, chocolate, cocoa, dried fruits, and handmade gifts

At Daily Bread, we’re committed to promoting Fairtrade because we believe in a fairer world. We know that some of the products we sell, such as coffee, tea, and chocolate, are produced in countries where farmers and workers can be exploited and paid very low wages. We believe that by selling Fairtrade products, we can make a positive difference in the lives of these farmers and workers, and advocate for greater transparency and accountability in global supply chains. Throughout Fairtrade Fortnight we have a display table showcasing some of our Fairtrade products, and when shopping at Daily Bread in general, look out for the Fairtrade certification symbol on product packaging.

By choosing Fairtrade now, you’re taking a stand with farmers and workers worldwide for fairer incomes, so together we can protect the future of our food. 

Daily Bread Cambridge

21 February 2023

News, Community, Events

‘Love Your Local Supplier’ Month (part 3) with Wicken Windmill

Daily Bread Cambridge

21 February 2023

News, Community, Events

We celebrate February, (the ‘month of love’) each year by showcasing local businesses whose products stock our shelves. This year we’ll be sharing Q&As with some of our nearest and dearest independent suppliers on our blog.

We hope that by highlighting their stories you’ll get to know the lovely humans behind the hard work, and help support them too!

Blackboard graphic with hearts and the words saying Love your local supplier. February is the month of love, for our local, independent, wonderful suppliers!

LOVE YOUR LOCAL SUPPLIER:
Q&A With Wicken Windmill

In the third of our series of local supplier Q&As we speak with Dave Pearce from Wicken Windmill.

Group photo of workers at Wicken Windmill — Back row: *Elwyn, Dave, Pip and Rob.* Front row: *Graham and Dan.* Absent from photo: *Kelvin and Philip.*

Tell us a bit about yourselves:

Our millers and millwrights give their time voluntarily to keep the 210 year old windmill in good order and hard at work.

Describe your business:

Wicken Mill is traditional Cambridgeshire windmill still at work making stone ground flour, from bread wheat, rye or spelt.

The Wicken Windmill Partnership concentrates on 2 things. We are millers, dedicated to producing good flour by the natural power of the wind, and at the same time obeying modern requirements. Also we are millwrights, carrying out all the engineering needs of our ancient technology – there are few people left with the skills needed to build, repair and maintain traditional windmills.

Before we could work the mill we had to restore it from ruin, with the help of volunteers from all over the country.

We don’t make much money, and the money we make goes towards future maintenance of the mill. But we enjoy it.

**The mill from the north, looking towards Cambridge across the Fens.**
Photograph: *Dan Carrick, taken from a Newmarket Plant Hire cherry picker, during a recent sail check over.*

What inspired you to choose this line of work?

As an engineer I liked to see the windmills in the landscape, and was sad to see the survivors disappearing.

Has the direction of your business changed over time?

Yes. Until 2001 the partnership was purely concerned with traditional mill engineering, particularly the restoration of Wicken Mill.

We remain busy with engineering, largely carried out from our workshops by the foot of the mill.

But equally we are concerned with the ancient art of corn grinding using millstones, which we have learned from scratch. We make 100% Wholemeal Flour, and convert some of it to Standard White and Finest White flours by sieving out the bran, the shell of the wheat seed. Only about 10% of British grown wheat is suitable for making bread flour. Currently we obtain most of our bread wheat from Copes Seeds of Sleaford.

*Wicken Windmill flour at Daily Bread Co-operative*

We are happy with our range of flours, but an ambition for one day is to source part of our supply from heritage wheats, of the sort which the windmill was built to grind in 1813, and extend our range to include ‘Wicken Heritage Flours’. Such ancient wheat varieties are scarce – but the ‘Old Burwell’ landrace wheat from our neighbouring parish was famous in the 19th century, and maybe someday will be available to grind again at Wicken Mill.

What challenges have you faced with the business?

Plenty! We decided from the start to make flour using only the power of the wind – no electric motors to drive the flour grinding machinery. We are one of relatively few traditional windmills which run purely by wind, some using electric drive when the wind is low.

In extended periods of light winds we might be becalmed for many days without being able to run the mill. We pay close attention to Met Office forecasts of wind resource, and when appropriate build up stocks of flour while the wind is strong.

The past year has been complicated for everybody. At the mill, grain prices have risen rapidly particularly due to the war in Ukraine affecting the world market, and also supplies of accessories needed for the business have become scarcer and more expensive. On the other hand we have been little affected by the general increase in energy costs – when the wind blows it is still free!

What's the most rewarding aspect to running the business?

The pleasure on the faces of returning customers, mixed with the surprise that many feel when driving through Wicken and coming upon a windmill still at work.

What advice would you give to new businesses that are just starting out?

Not easy. There are sound economic reasons why traditional flour mills went out of fashion. Any proceeds we make go towards future repairs of the mill.

What's next for your business?

There are limits to flour production at the windmill – the wind blows sufficiently to drive the mill powerfully on about 10 to 12 days per month. With more volunteer millers we could perhaps increase flour output, partly by working the mill on more of the windy days, and also by running more machinery simultaneously: the windmill can be quite labour intensive.

Eventually major repairs will be needed again – for example we last replaced a sail in 2018. We must search out supplies of good timber, and also seek support for purchases of materials. We are determined that the windmill will not fall into ruin again, as it was back in 1971.

Black and white photograph of Wicken Windmill in the past — Photograph: *Colin Mitchell, 1971.*

Anything else you'd like to mention?

Visitors are welcome – the mill is open to the public the first full weekend of each month. At other times, we are open whenever the sails are turning.

Wicken Windmill side view with sails facing to the right. — *Wicken Windmill pictured on April 5th, 2022.*

If anybody would like to know more there is a new book ‘The Restoration of Wicken Mill’ which tells the story of the mill and its repair. The book is available from the windmill for £16, or £18.70 including post and packaging.

Thank you so much Dave and everyone at Wicken Windmill!

Connect with Wicken Windmill via:
Wicken Windmill Facebook page

Simple ways to support an independent local business:

shop small and independent - spend with them as opposed to larger businesses. Even purchasing something low cost will help as every penny can count. See the Just A Card campaign as an example.
shop local - keep local businesses IN business!
word of mouth - tell people about/recommend them.
share their online posts or create your own for them to share.
write them a review/testimonial.
thank them and show your appreciation :)

Daily Bread Cambridge

11 February 2023

News, Community, Events

‘Love Your Local Supplier’ Month (part 2) with Emily's Corner

Daily Bread Cambridge

11 February 2023

News, Community, Events

We hope that by highlighting their stories you’ll get to know the lovely humans behind the hard work, and help support them too!

LOVE YOUR LOCAL SUPPLIER:
Q&A With EMILY’S CORNER

Emily's Corner hand poured soy wax candles

In the second of our series of local supplier Q&As we speak with Emily of Emily’s Corner. We started stocking Emily’s hand-poured eco-friendly scented candles, wax melts, and reed diffusers last year.

Tell us a bit about yourself:

I'm Emily, a candle maker from Cottenham. I live with my boyfriend Joe and cat Willow. I work full time for a commercial interior design company and whenever I am not working, I'm creating products in my kitchen!