Author: Charlotte Hyde

 

As you’re all aware, we announced our partnership with 1% For The Planet a few months ago and we are so excited to give you all updates on how we’re getting on!

? Here is a little recap on what 1% For The Planet is and WHY it is so blooming amazing: the goal is to support fantastic environmental businesses, to help them conquer the world and keep our environment safe.

SO – with that in mind, we thought a great place to start would be TREES! I mean, after all, they’re the reason we’re still alive and breathing! We are SO excited to announce that we’ve partnered with the amazing team over at The Orchard Project and have recently sent off our donation.

? Our contribution will help with planting seven community orchards in London this year. They will be involving schools, housing estates and the wider local communities to design, plant and care for their own orchard. The Orchard Project brings people together to support them in creating change in their local environment alongside improving health and wellbeing by connecting people with their neighbours and most importantly, with nature.

? But we can’t do this without YOU. So thank you to all you lovely snackers, as it’s your Indie Bay purchases that help make amazing things happen! 1% of all your orders go towards The Orchard Project, how nifty is that?!

The excitement doesn’t stop there. In September, the Indie Bay squad will be visiting Mill Hill to go apple picking!

The day will be designed to help us:

?Reconnect as a team after months of isolation.

?Connect us with real people from our local community in a natural way.

?Support local orchards in need and help to preserve London’s greenspace.

?Help make use of surplus fruit that may otherwise go to waste.

To add to the wholesomeness, we will also be doing some cider and apple juice tasting from fruit we pick on the day; that’s about as fresh as it gets.

I can’t wait to let you know how the day goes! ?

Charlotte

Indies, you might want to sit down for this one as we have some crazy exciting news for you!

Just when you thought Indie Bay Snacks couldn’t get any more moreish, better for you and better for the planet… WELL let me tell you something; we’ve just got creamier, tastier and even more sustainable. How about that? BOOM. (can you tell we’re excited?).

Our Dark and Milk Choc bites are now covered with the most delicious chocolate by Luker and boy oh BOY they taste so good. ?

? WHO are Luker Chocolate? Luker Chocolate is a Colombian cocoa supplier and chocolate maker that believes cocoa production can deliver positive societal change, because chocolate with a conscience just tastes better, right?

They seek to to change the chocolate supply chain from its starting point, building practical prosperity in the networks of our essential regions, selling chocolate lovers the full blown dream.

Luker Chocolate have planted over 600,000 trees, trained over 33,000 cocoa-farmers on their cocoa granja (a bit like a farm), and put in place 14 “shared value projects” like building aqueducts to serve communities around their Cocoa farms in Necocli. They inspire us all to be kinder to our bodies and be kinder to our planet. How bloomin cool do they sound?

? WHY do we LOVE Luker Chocolate? We have partnered with Luker Chocolate because, like them, we’re committed to making tasty snacks that are good for your bodies and great for the environment too.

Since Luker Chocolate made its mark in Colombia, they have positively disrupted the district and caught the hearts of its locals and we are here to allow them to capture your hearts too… sounds like a love story, doesn’t it???.

The fact is, we DO love Luker Chocolate, as they empower dreams, they educate us on the importance of sustainability and they provide us with the yummiest chocolate in the land.

? Come back for MORE. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be featuring the stories of people who’s lives have been touched by Luker Chocolate. We feel it’s important for us to go right back to their roots for you Indies to see exactly why we are so proud and so FLIPPING excited about working with them. Be sure to re-visit this blog as we’ll include those stories right here (I’ll give you gentle reminders every so often ?).

Already can’t get enough of Luker Chocolate and want to learn even more? Then click right here .

Thanks!

Charlotte

The lovely people of Luker:

Meet the incredible Rosalba. Her life has been completely transformed, and that is due to the incredible work that Luker Chocolate do. Putting people first is a priority for Luker, they’ve allowed Rosalba to flourish and achieve her dreams.

“Rosalba started to smile and accepted that her dream of becoming a pharmacy manager might come true after all. Now Rosalba is starting a business with friends from Caribia so that she can own her own restaurant thanks to Luker Chocolate’s work with the community.”

How god damn COOL are Luker and Rosalba? VERY in my opinion.

 

Say hello to Verónica.

Since the arrival of Luker Chocolate within Verónica’s community three years ago, the project has given her stable employment, income and greater responsibility. Helping to empower its employees, as well as keeping them motivated and independent, Luker Chocolate is dedicated to creating social and economic change in Colombia.

 

Here is the Wonderful Sylvia.

Sylvia is a community leader that works with Luker Chocolate to support communities in Necocli, near a Luker farm. The presence of the company has helped people reach their dreams, even for many that are not directly involved in the cocoa industry.

 

With lockdown restrictions easing, I think its important to start thinking about a normal life resuming.

I have learnt so much about myself and what’s really important from this pandemic but from an economy point of view one thing I’ve learnt for sure is how important it is to support smaller businesses. I am on a mission to encourage as many people as possible to visit independent bars, shops & restaurants (in line with the government guidance). I have found myself making conscious decisions in order to do my bit and support them where I can; e.g. small things that I would usually buy from Amazon (mainly for convenience), I now make sure I scan the internet to find similar items from a smaller business who I know will appreciate my order so much more, or ordering a takeaway from an independent restaurant instead of a larger well known restaurant chain.

With that in mind, I have put together a list of my top 10 favourite small businesses in the UK!

 

1. The Secret Garden Florist.

• A stunning bespoke lifestyle florist based in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire but available to ship to anywhere in the UK.
• They do weddings, parties, gifts, bespoke bouquets & so much more.
• Instagram handle: @theonlinesecretgarden.

2. The Other Cup

• An independent speciality coffee house based in Newton Abbot, Devon.
• Serving spectacular coffee, cakes, sandwiches & salads. 100% worth a visit if you’re in the area, and very friendly staff too!
• Instagram handle: @theothercup

3. Pasta Loco

• An incredible Italian based in Bristol.
• I have never tasted better pasta, so fresh! This was my go to when I was at university. It is so homely inside and feels extra special as there’s a different menu every day – exciting!
• Instagram handle: @pastaloco

4. Soho Joe’s

• Bar nestled away in the small streets of Soho, London.
• If you’re in the mood to sit outside in the quirky streets of Soho, sipping on an Aperol Spritz then this is the bar for you. The owners are so nice and they do great pizza!
• Instagram handle: @sohojoeuk

5. Anchor Stone Cafe

• If you’re ever in sunny South Devon and fancy the freshest of fish, then here is the dream spot.
• A family run restaurant with the friendliest staff paired with the most stunning view of the River Dart. Oh, and the wine is pretty good too!
• Website: https://anchorstonecafe.co.uk/

6. Pear Tree Café

• Situated in the heart of Battersea Park this is the perfect stop off point for a coffee and a sandwich… or a beer!
• They have been open for take away during the pandemic so be sure to go and say hey.
• Instagram handle: @pear.tree.cafe

7. Wax and Lash

• A gorgeous beautician based in Holtspur, Buckinghamshire.
• If you need your brows, lashes or nails done then these are your ladies! Their Spotify playlists are always on point too.
• Instagram handle: @waxandlashbar

8. BabaBoom

• Delish freshly made kebabs
• These guys are based in Battersea and Islington, and serve the best kebabs, flat breads and salads I’ve ever tasted. Such a happy, low key and buzzing vibe in there too.
• Instagram handle: @bababoomlondon

9. The Roald Dahl Museum & Story centre

• This is one for a kid’s day out. Situated in a beautiful quaint town called Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire.
• It is bursting with stories, fun, gift shops and the most amazing café that serves Whizzpopper Hot chocolates!
• Instagram handle: @roalddahlmusuem

10. KILN

• A Thai Grill & Seafood restaurant in Soho, London.
• I have never tasted such fragrant food, the smell hits you as soon as you walk in. This restaurant is small but extremely mighty.
• Every day the menu is different, bringing you the most fresh fish ever. If you like spice and funky cocktails then I really recommend this place.
• Instagram handle: @kilnsoho

You ever just fancy something a little different? But not too hard to make but full of delicious-ness? Then this is the PERFECT snack recipe for you – Vegan Nutella & Indie Bay Lightly Salted Thins.

I often find it quite hard to get creative with vegan recipes, I struggle to make something creamy yet sugary – BUT this recipe my friends, really does hit that sweet spot. These delights are super versatile as they’re perfect as a family activity to then eat in front of a movie, but they also have that wow factor to be an impressive dessert canapé.

I love the different textures… the silky chocolate mixed with that powerful Indie Bay crunch, wow I’m drooling.
Now let’s talk taste. The nuttiness and earthiness of the hazelnuts, mixed with the sweet spread and salty Thins really is a winner for me.

Want to give it a try? Check out the method below, you’ll thank me later.

 

 

Love from Charlotte x