July Event - Tasting Day with The Cambucha!

The Cambucha tasting event:

Visit Daily Bread on Saturday 22nd July 2023 between 11.15am and 4pm for our next tasting event! Try some premium kombucha, hand-crafted in the rural outskirts of Cambridge by The Cambucha! Meet The Cambucha’s team, Łukasz and Kasia - a husband and wife duo passionate about great foods and healthy living.

Try The Cambucha’s premium hand-crafted kombucha in 3 delicious flavours:

Raspberry - slowly fermented with a blend of premium teas and real raspberries (yep, we went heavy on them!). It is deliciously tangy, has a long-lasting flavour and just the right amount of effervescence to tickle your palate. We don't use anything that shouldn't be there (no flavourings, no colourings, no preservatives, no sweeteners).

Ginger & Lemon - infused with whole real lemons and freshly grated ginger root. Zesty and invigorating. More bubbly than our other products, just to give more of a kick.

Original - the simplest recipe, yet probably the most intriguing flavour. 

A blend of three exquisite teas - each contributing to its rich and full-bodied flavour. Darjeeling tea from West Bengal, provides delicate and complex fruity flavours with subtle musky spiciness. Ceylon tea from Dimbula region brings bold and fresh flavour with a smooth taste. Lastly, Oolong tea gives deep raisin and ripe fruit aromas to complete the perfect combination that makes Cambucha so irresistibly delicious.  Carefully fermented for nearly a month this product has wonderfully balanced sourness with some smooth tannins and texture just on the verge between still and sparkling, not unlike best vintage cider. 

We hope to see you on Saturday!

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Find The Cambucha on Instagram here.

Daily Bread Co-op on Cambridge 105 Radio

Following our announcement last week about potential closure of the shop, and our plea to ‘use us or lose us’, we are extremely grateful and delighted to share that the local community have rallied round with support, including offers such as a feature on the local radio.

Daily Bread Co-op member Adam spoke to presenter Alan Alder for the Flavour programme on Cambridge 105 Radio on Saturday 20th May. They talk about the ins-and-outs of Daily Bread Co-op, and discuss the current issues and situation we find ourselves in.

If you would like to listen to the segment, you can find it here.

Announcement - potential closure of Daily Bread Co-operative Cambridge

An open letter announcing the difficulties we are currently facing.

Dear customers and friends,

As many of you know, we have been running as an independent co-operative wholefoods shop in King’s Hedges for over 30 years. This is the announcement we didn’t want to have to make, but sadly, we have no option. We are regrettably facing closure.

Unfortunately, due to unavoidable economic difficulties, we may need to close in the very near future unless there is a radical turnaround in customer shopping habits. We are asking our customers and community to please ‘use us or lose us’ and show support by shopping with us now and in coming months. Every single purchase counts. We hope that together we can keep our co-operative community healthy and thriving.

We have been unable to employ new staff to replace those that have left, thus we are operating at a reduced scale, and you may see the effects of this with, for example, more pre-packed products replacing those we pack, fewer staff around the shop, and slightly longer response times with communications.

Please be patient with us as we try our best.

Various economic crises have affected everyone financially, and we understand that people are having to adapt their shopping choices. If you wish to support us but are unable to due to this, we'd really appreciate it if you could spread the word about us by telling friends and family, posting reviews, and sharing on social media.

With gratitude,

The Daily Bread Co-op Team

April event: Macrame Plant Hanger Workshop at Daily Bread!

If you're looking for a creative and fun way to freshen up your home decor this spring, don't miss our upcoming macrame plant hanger workshop with Bebe and Ju Crafts!

Macrame is an ancient artform that involves knotting cords together to create beautiful and intricate designs. In this workshop, you'll learn the basic techniques of macrame and how to create your very own plant hanger in your choice of colour, that you can take home to display or give as a special handmade gift! Not only will you learn a new skill, but you'll also have a chance to meet like-minded people and enjoy a fun and relaxing morning.

Macrame plant hanger workshop - where and when:

Mark your calendars for the 26th April from 10am til 12pm and join us for a morning of creativity and fun! The macrame plant hanger workshop will take place in our cafe, which means refreshments and snacks are close at hand to purchase if you need a cuppa (and/or cake!)

Further info:

The workshop is suitable for beginners. All materials to make your plant hanger will be supplied, though please note that pots and plants are not included. The workshop duration is approximately 2 hours.

Booking:

There are 8 places available and tickets are £35 each, to be purchased in advance. You can purchase in advance at the till when visiting our shop, or alternatively send a booking request by emailing cambridge@dailybread.co.uk with the subject line: Macrame workshop booking. Please let us know your choice of yarn colour when booking. Choose from these lovely colours:

New to Daily Bread Co-operative? Here’s where to find us!

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

Easter products at Daily Bread

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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

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

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

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.

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!

Fairtrade Fortnight

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. ​​ 

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. ​​ 

Support Wintercomfort by donating to our pay-it-forward refill shower initiative!

News about a new initiative in the shop🧴🚿
We are so pleased to announce that our customers can support Wintercomfort’s efforts to reduce waste by donating towards a 'pay-it-forward' initiative for refills of body wash and shampoo. Next time you're filling up at our refill station, please consider popping a little extra their way - helping Wintercomfort to help people experiencing homelessness restore their sense of dignity and self-worth.
You can donate £2 at the till to purchase a token which we put in a special pot. At the end of the day we count the tokens and colour in the levels of the bottle graphic on the chalkboard above the refill station to show the progress of donations!

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A post shared by Daily Bread Co-op Cambridge (@dailybreadcamb)

And an update from Wintercomfort!

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Small Business Saturday - 'The Tour' visited us in Cambridge!

One of our members, Adam, was interviewed by Gemma from Small Business Saturday in November when their UK Tour stopped off in Cambridge! ✨
Watch the video to hear Adam talk about Daily Bread’s vision and values.

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A post shared by Daily Bread Co-op Cambridge (@dailybreadcamb)

Small Business Saturday - Daily Bread Christmas Gift Ideas Guide

It’s Small Business Saturday so we’ve included some of our smaller suppliers in our Christmas gift ideas guide! For small businesses like ours and those of our suppliers’, every sale really counts and keeps us thriving (and at the moment for many it’s a case of keeping us afloat too.) All festive products are available at Daily Bread Co-op Cambridge while stocks (and socks!) last.

1. Baby bamboo bear socks in a bag - Thought

2. Festive stocking - made with sari off-cuts - Siesta Crafts

3. Scented candles & wax melts - Emily’s Corner

4. Vegan gingerbread men - Lottie Shaws

5. Handmade gift wrap - Shared Earth

6. Fair trade, sustainable felt octopus decoration - Felt So Good

7. Plantable seed paper gift tags - Triple Kiss Designs

8. Festive Aroma essential oil - Amour Natural

9. Fair trade, sustainable felt dog decoration - Felt So Good

10. Quentin Blake King’s Choir Christmas cards - Curated Cambridge

See our social media accounts (links below) for more festive products available in the shop this year including food, drinks, candles, cards, socks, and stocking fillers!

Tasting Day - Food for The Planet Festival

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Come and sample delicious plant-based offerings from some of our local suppliers!
By connecting people directly with local and ethically sourced produce, we hope to raise awareness and action for the sustainable production and consumption of food. 

We will also give a compostable bag demo to show how our packaging degrades 🤗 

See CSF’s full event programme here: https://cambridgesustainablefood.org/food-for-the-planet-programme 

Daily Bread Co-op Cambridge Tasting Day

Join us for a Tasting Day at Daily Bread Co-op on Wednesday October 19th as part of Cambridge Sustainable Food's Food for the Planet Festival - a week-long festival of events in Cambridge focused on *climate action on a plate*.

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#yeswecam #goldfoodcambridge 

National Allotments Week: Daily Bread's outdoor growing space by Transition Cambridge

National Allotments Week image from: NSALG

It's National Allotments Week!
🍅🥕🥔🪴
For 20 years the National Allotment Society have been "raising awareness of allotments and their role in helping people to live healthier lifestyles, grow their own food, develop friendships & bolster communities". (Quoted text from NSALG website.)

Here’s our in store display table with our National Allotments Week product picks:

Did you know we have our own little growing space in front of Daily Bread that nurtures these principles too?

Transition Cambridge veggie garden outside Daily Bread Co-op, King’s Hedges

Going back a few years, Transition Cambridge set us up with an edible landscaping platform in the form of raised fruit/veg beds as part of their Growing Spaces project. Their volunteers transformed an area by our carpark into a space where the community can come and pick their own fruit & veg!

The raised beds are decorated with Jayne Ruffell-Ward’s beautiful steel sculptures as can be seen on the Growing Spaces website. We currently have fruit, veg, and herbs growing, so come and see if there’s anything ready and ripe for the picking!
Find out more via their website: transitioncambridge.org 🌱

New Product: Candy Kittens gourmet vegan sweets!

Introducing a new product on our shelves: Candy Kittens!
Gourmet sweets that are:

vegan

made with fruit juice

palm oil free

natural flavours & colours

carbon neutral

very tasty!

These have been very popular both with staff and customers since they hit the shelves. We hope you like them too!

New Product: Biona organic green curry coconut milk

New product alert! We now stock Biona green curry coconut milk which is dairy free, organic & vegan.

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Suggestion for a simple, wholesome meal: fry some onion, add the milk, add diced root veg or lighter veg (depending on season). Serve with rice. Mmmm!

We’d love to see what you make with this coconut milk - share on social media and @mention/#tag us!