Food & Drink Festival Online 2020

Friday, June 19, 2020

With the unfortunate coronavirus pandemic causing markets and festivals to close down, small businesses have been forced to start selling online. For many of these businesses, markets were their main source of income. The Food & Drink Festival Online is on a mission to help these artisan businesses find their feet again. And allows you can have over 80 food & drink producers all in one place!



What is The Food & Drinks Festival? 


The Food and Drink festival Online is run by Richard Reeves of Slice&Dice, a digital agency. The idea for the festival came around when Richard was talking to small business owner, Katia Sokolskaya, who founded the Nauteas tea company.

The food and drink festival is an online event where you can discover and buy artisan products that can be delivered straight to your own home. There is a whole range of products to choose from, including vegan and gluten-free options. From sauces to chocolate, oils to baking kits, there are endless treats for you to try. The festival is an ideal opportunity to discover new businesses, support small & local producers and try some UK artisan products! New producers are being added all the time!

How Does It Work? 


On the Food & Drink Festival's website, you're greeted with a selection of categories to narrow down your search. You can also just browse through all of the producers that are on the website. Once you find a business you like, you tap on their image, and it takes you to their website! This allows you to order directly from the producer's site, so all the money from your purchase goes to them.

I Am A Business - Can I Join The Festival? 


Yes! The festival is open to newcomers, with many being added each week. It is FREE to join the festival, but you must be a food or drink seller. All you have to do is fill in the online application form and send it off! The festival team will create your brand profile for you. 


Why Should I Help Out The Festival? 


There are lots of reasons why you should support the Food and Drink Festival! Here are a few to think about:

  • You are helping out small business - each with a family and bills that need to be paid
  • Small businesses now can't sell at markets, where a lot of their income comes from. You are helping them stay afloat!
  • Most businesses are small and run from their own homes - you are helping entrepreneurs work in their dream jobs!
  • You can discover artisan businesses which you may never have heard of before
  • You can try new foods, ones you might actually prefer to your typical options, and that are better for you

If you aren't looking to buy from the producers just yet, you can still help out in several ways! 

  • Share the Food & Drink Festival on social media
  • Purchase the products as gifts for others 
  • Swap your regular foods, for artisan alternatives for a week (there are lots of sauces, spices and snacks on the website!)
  • Follow some of the producers on social media
  • Tell your friends and families about it!


What Brands Are At The Festival? 


With over 80 brands already on the website, and more being added regularly, it would be hard for me to name them all! I have picked out some interesting brands that I think you lovely people will like, including a vegan, a free-from and an organic business!

Flawsome


Flawsome aim to reduce food waste by using imperfect or surplus fruit to make delicious cold-pressed juice. Everything Flawsome uses has been recycled in some way! Their juices aren't from concentrate and don't contain added sugars or artificial sweeteners. There are a few drink flavours to choose from, including orange, strawberry and limited edition apple and pumpkin!

The Bottled Baking Co


The Bottled Baking Co offers a range of cake, cookie & brownie mixes contained in reusable glass bottles! Each mix uses high-quality ingredients, and offer you a hassle-free baking experience! The mixes would make an amazing gift idea or a simple afternoon, baking with the children!

Pep Kitchen


Pep Kitchen make delicious vegan ready meals that are inspired by flavours around the world. These award-winning freezer meals have compostable trays, so are good for the environment! There are lots of different meals to choose from, all delivered directly to your door. The best thing about these meals is that they are plant-based but delicious! 

Luscious


If you're looking for ice-cream this summer, Luscious offers organic ice-cream and custard! All of their ingredients are carefully sourced from certified organic suppliers. They have some delicious flavours to choose from, including vanilla, coffee, salted caramel, matcha green tea and peanut butter!

Bay's Kitchen


The founder of Bay's Kitchen, Bay Burdett, was diagnosed with IBS and was advised to follow a Low FODMAP Diet. She decided to produce award-winning, low FODMAP, gluten-Free and vegan sauces. These sauces look delicious, and there are lots to choose from. The whole family can enjoy these sauces, leaving no one out, no matter your diet!

I think the Food & Drink Festival is an amazing opportunity for business and new customers to come together. It is a unique solution to markets and festival-closing down. The festival has plans to continue to run. This means you have access to all of these suppliers in one place for a while! There are so many other businesses on the site selling products like chocolate, spices, teas, pasta, snacks, and so much more! There is really something for everyone to enjoy. 

The bottled baking co baking selection. They are bottled filled with dry baking ingredients for muffins, brownies and cookies
I hope your eyes have been opened to some new and amazing small businesses that are promoting their products at the festival! If you can, please make sure you check out the site and maybe make a purchase. These businesses would be so grateful for your help! Have you bought something at the festival? What small business would you like to see at the festival? Let me know in the comments! 



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23 comments

  1. This is a brilliant idea and so good to be able to help out small businesses during this difficult time. The products sound lovely too!

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    1. The all sound really delicious! It was hard to pick just a few! Thank you for reading!

      Em x

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  2. What a fantastic event! I love this; and really hope it gains the support it needs. I will for sure be checking it out.

    Paige // Paige Eades

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    1. It is a wonderful festival and everyone taking part would appreciate your support! Thank you for reading!

      Em x

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  3. Thanks for sharing this great idea, we do need to support small business during this time we are in at the moment :)

    Nic | Nic's Adventures & Bakes

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    1. There are so many businesses out there, something for everyone! Thank you for reading!

      Em x

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  4. This is such a fun idea, I love supporting small businesses!

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  5. Love this. The wonky fruit juice is definitely my favourite, I’m a big fan of the wonky fruit & veg, I really don’t care if my carrot is straight or not.

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    1. Nor do I, it is strange to think people avoid food if it doesn't look 100% perfect! I think what Flawsome are doing is wonderful!

      Em x

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  6. I love the sound of The Bottled Baking! What a fab easy way to bake and with limited packaging (that's also reusable, win win!)

    Jenny
    http://www.jennyinneverland.com

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    1. I bet their products taste delicious! It would make for a fun weekend of baking that's for sure. Thank you for reading!

      Em x

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  7. I'm loving hearing about all these new festivals that are being borne out of the Coronavirus pandemic. I love the Bottled Baking Co. and the Flawsome ideas!

    MB | http://www.megbeth.travel.blog

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    1. I think it is a great way to help out amazing small businesses who have been suffering! Thank you for reading!

      Em x

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  8. I love the sound of this! I was having a conversation the other day talking about how the pandemic would have impacted traders that usually do things like food festivals. Such a great way to offer support x

    Sophie
    www.glowsteady.co.uk

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    1. I think this is a great opportunity for affected small businesses to get back out there again! Plus it really opens your eyes to all the amazing food & drinks out there! Thank you for reading!

      Em x

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  9. This is a wonderful idea and I'm glad it provides an avenue for small businesses especially during this time

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think it is nice that people are offering support! Thank you for taking the time to read & comment,

      Em x

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  10. This is very inspiring to entrepreneurs on how to find continuity on their business at this time. This idea can be adopted to many local communities. And bonus is the accessed of healthy and organic food. Cheers!

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    1. I think it is nice that there are things in place to help businesses! Thank you for taking the time to read & comment,

      Em x

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  11. This is such a great idea! I was supposed to be going to a food festival earlier this year but it was cancelled due to COVID so it's nice to see an online food and drink festival!

    Roni | myelevatedexistence.com

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  12. This is an amazing idea and wonderful that small businesses can get a bit of recognition at this hard time.

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  13. I love that you can still do a virtual festival regardless of the theme. It is neat that you can even do a food and drink festival at home too! It really helps out with small businesses and you can discover new things along the way too! All of these different companies sound pretty neat. I always thought the bottled baking ingredients were interesting! Thanks for sharing!

    Nancy ✨ exquisitely.me

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