Facing COVID-19: The food producer permanently moving online following lockdown sales success

A Yorkshire food supplier has announced that it will be permanently trading online following record sales during lockdown.

Delifresh, a speciality food supplier, has announced it is keeping its virtual doors open indefinitely following the launch of their emergency online grocery store after achieving 37,000 orders from across the region.

The company, which usually supplies its produce to chefs and restaurants in Yorkshire, opened its inventory to the public in late March and have since seen record success.

What was meant to be a temporary solution has been so well received that the company has announced not only will that it remain open to the public, but that it is also expanding into Widness, Liverpool, Newcastle, Sunderland and Durham with immediate effect, delivering from its local depots in those areas.

Delifresh’s head of innovation development, Robert Ramsden, commented: “We’ve been blown away by the response, what started as a temporary online store to provide our produce to those who couldn’t get access to the food they needed has grown into a 15,000 strong customer base.

“We’ve been inundated with hundreds of comments and emails asking us to remain open after lockdown ends as people want to continue using us.

“The biggest reason for our success is the quality of what we’re delivering, it’s locally sourced where possible, field to fork produce that’s usually reserved for the restaurants – flavours and products not usually seen by the public.

“Everything from Yorkshire artisan cheeses, fruit & veg, to fresh meat and fish and even high-quality store cupboard goods all available delivered to your door.

“We’ve had people place orders from all over the world for their family members based in Yorkshire - as far as Dubai!”

The business is adding over 20 new products a week after growing public demand, and is currently operating at a 48-hour delivery service with plans to add further product lines in the coming months.