Words by Smiley Team
At the start of the pandemic food delivery service Grubby was quick off the mark to adjust to society’s changing needs. But not only did they leap to protect their profit margins, they also embarked on a mission to become more ethical and sustainable.
Originally the London-based company supplied offices with smart vending machines. “Tired employees could scan their card and grab a recipe kit with all the ingredients included,” explained Grubby’s Leo Fisher. Then when lockdown came into force and remote working was introduced, their market suddenly vanished.
Rather than panicking, they saw the moment as a chance to improve. With a business ethos rooted in community care, the company first responded by donating over 1,000 meals to healthcare professionals in hospitals across London. Their next step was to reshape their business model entirely around modern needs.
The result is a fully eco-conscious and people-focused initiative. The company delivers locally-sourced, plant-based ingredients and recipes to doors by bicycle, with minimal packaging and emissions.
“Grubby eliminates the foodprint of fruit and vegetables being shipped from halfway across the world,” Leo explained. “It’s hopeful for the future, promising lower emissions for the way foods travel from the farm, direct to consumers forks.”
By opting for green suppliers, transportation and products, Grubby puts planet and people first. Obviously, the main facet of Grubby’s meal deliveries is that they are plant-based. This offers numerous health benefits and is “the single biggest” way to protect the environment as an individual, according to one Oxford University study.
“We’d never tell anyone to go hardcore vegan,” said Leo. “Right now, we just feel like that’s a bit of an unrealistic goal for everyone. We’re just all about helping to fit plant-based cooking into your lifestyle.
“If you’re on the path to thinking about your dairy or meat consumption, we’re hopefully adding a lot to your arsenal, helping you discover recipes that you can return to for the rest of your life and ultimately, use to build your skills in the kitchen.”
But their work is also socially beneficial. Since donating to NHS workers, they haven’t stopped caring for people in need, partnering with charitable initiatives to help those facing poverty or famine.
For every box sold, they donate a meal to a child living in poverty through 1morechild.org. The organisation supports 280 young Ugandans, through education and providing basic necessities such as food and clothing.
To order with Grubby and have your purchase matched with a donation to disadvantaged children, visit grubby.co.uk. They currently only accept orders from within London.
