Getting local with your food is the ‘mot du jour’ lately, and with good reason too, since not only is it better for the environment, and has fewer carbon food miles, it also supports your local communities. What better way to do it than with your Wedge Card round all the local independents in London? So whip out your Wedge Card we’re going for a little tour round London town!
Starters - Our little tour begins in the heart of Wedge land; a fantastic cluster of shops located in and around our office and Waterloo Station. Get your meal off to a sumptuous start with salad from Casse-Croute on Lower Marsh; they offer wonderful combinations of beans, pasta, couscous, quiches, and many Middle Eastern inspired delights. And with your Wedge Card you get a free cookie with purchases over £5-bonus! Onto Greensmiths, a stone’s throw away on Lower Marsh, to top up those salads with a whole host of olives; they sell pots of black, purple, bright green and your standard ’olive’ green fare. And why not grate some candy beetroot for the perfect finish on your starting salad? These make a wonderful colourful addition to your salad, and are guaranteed to please. And if you’ve started your shopping a little late in the day why not stop by for a speedy snack which comes with a free tea or coffee when you spend £5 or more in the café after 3pm.
Mains- It’s now time to trek it across to the Nutritious Food Gallery in East London, Broadway Market. This shop does what it says on the tin, and is worth a visit just for the conversation with the owner. But yes, we know you’re here to stock up for your dinner…And fish is the dish of the day! You’ll get a fantastic 15% off fish when using your Wedge Card and you can then pick up your accompanying veg whilst here. Now that you have got the starters and mains sorted, it’s time to head down to Bedales in Market Street at Spitalfields Market for the perfect wine accompaniment. The expert noses of Bedales will help you choose the best to bring out the all the different nuances and flavours in your meal. And if you fancy stopping by for a little tipple yourself, late afternoon, Bedales offer half price on corkage after 3pm with your Wedge Card.
Cheese Platter- No meal is complete without the cheese course, and La Fromagerie fulfils all your Wedge needs: 10% off for your favourite wedge of cheese. Find them in Marylebone and Highbury.
Dessert- And all of you with sweet tooth out there, never fear, the gastronomic tour with Wedge is not complete without a visit to a cake shop! Head to The Spence in Stoke Newington Church Street, N1. There is a cake for all tastes: chocolate, heavenly cheesecake, frangipane fruit tarts, and gluten free polenta lemon cake among many.
Coffee- An after dinner espresso is perfectly finished with Rococo Chocolates, located in Avenue Mews, N1, King’s Road, SW3 and Marylebone High Street, W1U. A tantalising 10% off their tempting treats; may we suggest a bittersweet dark chocolate truffle to add that luxurious touch to the end of your meal?
Written by Nadia Bunce
Monday, 22 February 2010
Thursday, 4 February 2010
If only I had worked at an independent…
‘Hi, how are you?’
‘Ok thanks.’
Forced smile.
‘Do you have a loyalty card?’
‘No.’
‘That’ll be $9.50.’
Robotic exchange of money.
‘Thanks, have a good day.’ Another plastic smile.
Grunt.
This dry exchange was repeated at least three-hundred times every shift I worked in the express checkout at a massive chain supermarket in Australia.
There would often be a break in the monotony where I would serve one of my hungry colleagues buying a microwave meal for their lunch. This would follow with the predictable conversation of how busy it has been that day or bitching about a particularly rude customer. They would then trundle up to the tea room to heat and eat the soggy cardboard surprise and chat to colleagues about how busy it has been that day.
It amused me whenever the ‘big boss’ used to venture into the tea room from his big, dark office of demands and security cameras. Apparently he did this to show he was just ‘part of the team’ and to make him seem more approachable. It didn’t help when most of the team sat at the other end of the tea table. He tried to strike up conversation with how busy it had been that day and this generally got everybody talking.
One conversation that sticks in my mind is the merchandise placement strategy they were working on. The big boss had moved the entire milk fridge to the very back of the store, as well as all of the bakery items.
‘This is what people buy the most. Bread and milk. I want them to walk through the whole store through all the 2-4-1’s until they get to the staples at the back of the store. ‘
I thought about this obstacle course of temptation and it didn’t sit right with me.
I partook in this ritual during my first week to bond with my new ‘supermarket team’. Until one lunch time, a lady from the deli came into the tea room with a beautiful poppy-seed roll bursting with vibrant, fresh ingredients.
‘Where did you get that roll?’ I asked, salivating.
‘At the local sandwich shop, next to the newsagents up there. They’re the best!’
I ditched my heat-n-eat meal and marched straight to the sandwich shop. It was busy in there, but I was greeted with a real smile and the customers didn’t seem to be generally bothered. A bain Marie lay before me with hot pasta, couscous, vegetables and stir frys. Everything was in front of me, not hidden at the back of the shop between red special flags and offensive promotions.
I ordered some colourful vegetables and couscous and sat in their small café munching away, listening to the genuine conversation between the shop owner and Margaret about her sick Budgie Harry. I took my first deep breath of the day and my shoulders dropped. This is somewhere I’d like to work.
Why had I not walked those extra few steps and looked in my local independent shops? Did the huge chain monster blind me with its florescent lights and 2-for1 quick and easy meals? Working with the competitor has opened my eyes to quality food, and quality service and this is the only thing I can thank them for (apart from my pay check!).
Written by Lauren Ottaway
‘Ok thanks.’
Forced smile.
‘Do you have a loyalty card?’
‘No.’
‘That’ll be $9.50.’
Robotic exchange of money.
‘Thanks, have a good day.’ Another plastic smile.
Grunt.
This dry exchange was repeated at least three-hundred times every shift I worked in the express checkout at a massive chain supermarket in Australia.
There would often be a break in the monotony where I would serve one of my hungry colleagues buying a microwave meal for their lunch. This would follow with the predictable conversation of how busy it has been that day or bitching about a particularly rude customer. They would then trundle up to the tea room to heat and eat the soggy cardboard surprise and chat to colleagues about how busy it has been that day.
It amused me whenever the ‘big boss’ used to venture into the tea room from his big, dark office of demands and security cameras. Apparently he did this to show he was just ‘part of the team’ and to make him seem more approachable. It didn’t help when most of the team sat at the other end of the tea table. He tried to strike up conversation with how busy it had been that day and this generally got everybody talking.
One conversation that sticks in my mind is the merchandise placement strategy they were working on. The big boss had moved the entire milk fridge to the very back of the store, as well as all of the bakery items.
‘This is what people buy the most. Bread and milk. I want them to walk through the whole store through all the 2-4-1’s until they get to the staples at the back of the store. ‘
I thought about this obstacle course of temptation and it didn’t sit right with me.
I partook in this ritual during my first week to bond with my new ‘supermarket team’. Until one lunch time, a lady from the deli came into the tea room with a beautiful poppy-seed roll bursting with vibrant, fresh ingredients.
‘Where did you get that roll?’ I asked, salivating.
‘At the local sandwich shop, next to the newsagents up there. They’re the best!’
I ditched my heat-n-eat meal and marched straight to the sandwich shop. It was busy in there, but I was greeted with a real smile and the customers didn’t seem to be generally bothered. A bain Marie lay before me with hot pasta, couscous, vegetables and stir frys. Everything was in front of me, not hidden at the back of the shop between red special flags and offensive promotions.
I ordered some colourful vegetables and couscous and sat in their small café munching away, listening to the genuine conversation between the shop owner and Margaret about her sick Budgie Harry. I took my first deep breath of the day and my shoulders dropped. This is somewhere I’d like to work.
Why had I not walked those extra few steps and looked in my local independent shops? Did the huge chain monster blind me with its florescent lights and 2-for1 quick and easy meals? Working with the competitor has opened my eyes to quality food, and quality service and this is the only thing I can thank them for (apart from my pay check!).
Written by Lauren Ottaway
Monday, 25 January 2010
One of our favourite Wedge directors was honoured over the New Year. Nigel Kershaw received an OBE for services to social enterprise. He has been with The Big Issue for 15 years, and is also CEO of Big Issue Invest, the social enterprise investment fund which has invested more than £6.5m in social enterprises. Wedge Card is a sister company of The Big Issue - and we’re so proud of you, Nigel!
Wednesday, 20 January 2010
Our favourite new quote: Fail early, fail often
When I started developing the idea of Wedge Card with my Dad and his French PA, the most common response to it was ‘That’ll never work!’ or ‘The world belongs to Tesco now, I wouldn’t bother!’ It was disheartening at times to say the least but my intense stubbornness, which in most other social situations is a barrier to normal relationships; pushed me on until four years later here we are - a living breathing product. Since our launch we have hit upon a huge vein that gushes enthusiastically for Wedge and for that we are grateful. But the fear of failure has hung greatly over us, and though at times spurred us on has also led to much hand ringing and night sweats. Why does failure hold so much fear for us?
Failure in our society is viewed almost as a crime. Mistakes are not viewed positively. Yes we can make them and hopefully shrug them off but they are to be avoided. And yet isn’t there some awareness, somewhere that failure and mistakes on some level are integral to success? How can you know what the right way is if you don’t know the wrong way? Building a business is learning to navigate an unexplored path, particularly with a business that is innovating such as Wedge, with no bog-standard business plan to reply on.
Let’s not take it personally – let’s as the quote says – fail early fail often and learn how to do better.
Written by Diana Bird
Failure in our society is viewed almost as a crime. Mistakes are not viewed positively. Yes we can make them and hopefully shrug them off but they are to be avoided. And yet isn’t there some awareness, somewhere that failure and mistakes on some level are integral to success? How can you know what the right way is if you don’t know the wrong way? Building a business is learning to navigate an unexplored path, particularly with a business that is innovating such as Wedge, with no bog-standard business plan to reply on.
Let’s not take it personally – let’s as the quote says – fail early fail often and learn how to do better.
Written by Diana Bird
Tuesday, 19 January 2010
Give Good Local Food a Chance
Local food and shopping has been a hot topic in the press recently with further discussion over the relationship between supermarkets and local producers. During The Today Programme on BBC Radio 4 on the 5th of January, the Environment Secretary Hilary Benn said that the country should change how we provide and consume food in Britain. The government has a twenty year plan to increase food production on our farms and a strategy to revolutionise how we produce food. Their aim is to heighten food production to cope with increasing demand using sustainable resources. But this cannot be achieved with the unjust relationship between producers and suppliers.
‘In recent years, governments have relied on big food retailers to deliver low prices in the name of a 'cheap food policy'. Rocketing food prices last year have shown how volatile this system is. Government must now put resilience and sustainability at the heart of its food policy,’ Commissioner Professor Tim Lang from the Sustainable Development Commission said.
Increasing sustainable food production sounds like a brilliant plan and it is now feasible with the government’s new supermarket ombudsman, announced on the 14th. The ombudsman will enforce a new groceries supply code of practice (GSCOP). Currently, farmers are powerless to negotiate deals with large supply chains of their products and food giants often abuse their power over these smaller producers. Last year the NFU found that for a basket of food costing the consumer £37 the farmers would only have got £11. Producers need to be able to get their products in store without being swindled by larger supply chains.
The government wants to combat this, and the new code of practice will govern the relationship between producers and suppliers. The idea of a supermarket watchdog has long been debated and now, after a huge push from the Competition Commission who researched the unfair relationships between producers and suppliers, the ombudsman finally got the go ahead. This watchdog will deal with unfair practices, such as squeezing profits, cutting prices, paying late and making producers fund marketing.
Farmers have suffered immensely during the recession and the government want to make Britain a food industry superpower. They want food and energy security for the future and this can be sustained using locally sourced produce. For this to work the government need to loosen the stronghold that large supermarket chains have on local producers for an equal, locally supported market, and this can be achieved with the supermarket ombudsman. Acting under this new code of practice, the government will try and persuade supermarkets to be more responsible, and also provide more locally sourced food.
National Farmers Union President Peter Kendall said: ‘Government has said it will act in the best interests of consumers and it seems clear that the establishment of an ombudsman will give suppliers the confidence to invest and to innovate which will, in turn, improve consumer choice, produce better products, and ensure food remains affordable.’
Wedge thinks that this is fantastic news for local producers and independent shops. Not only will it help local farmers, but also the independent retailers who are in competition with the larger chain supermarkets. This new code of practise will even out the playing field between chains and independents and give local retailers the step up they deserve.
Let’s raise one arm in the air for local producers!
Written by Lauren Ottaway
‘In recent years, governments have relied on big food retailers to deliver low prices in the name of a 'cheap food policy'. Rocketing food prices last year have shown how volatile this system is. Government must now put resilience and sustainability at the heart of its food policy,’ Commissioner Professor Tim Lang from the Sustainable Development Commission said.
Increasing sustainable food production sounds like a brilliant plan and it is now feasible with the government’s new supermarket ombudsman, announced on the 14th. The ombudsman will enforce a new groceries supply code of practice (GSCOP). Currently, farmers are powerless to negotiate deals with large supply chains of their products and food giants often abuse their power over these smaller producers. Last year the NFU found that for a basket of food costing the consumer £37 the farmers would only have got £11. Producers need to be able to get their products in store without being swindled by larger supply chains.
The government wants to combat this, and the new code of practice will govern the relationship between producers and suppliers. The idea of a supermarket watchdog has long been debated and now, after a huge push from the Competition Commission who researched the unfair relationships between producers and suppliers, the ombudsman finally got the go ahead. This watchdog will deal with unfair practices, such as squeezing profits, cutting prices, paying late and making producers fund marketing.
Farmers have suffered immensely during the recession and the government want to make Britain a food industry superpower. They want food and energy security for the future and this can be sustained using locally sourced produce. For this to work the government need to loosen the stronghold that large supermarket chains have on local producers for an equal, locally supported market, and this can be achieved with the supermarket ombudsman. Acting under this new code of practice, the government will try and persuade supermarkets to be more responsible, and also provide more locally sourced food.
National Farmers Union President Peter Kendall said: ‘Government has said it will act in the best interests of consumers and it seems clear that the establishment of an ombudsman will give suppliers the confidence to invest and to innovate which will, in turn, improve consumer choice, produce better products, and ensure food remains affordable.’
Wedge thinks that this is fantastic news for local producers and independent shops. Not only will it help local farmers, but also the independent retailers who are in competition with the larger chain supermarkets. This new code of practise will even out the playing field between chains and independents and give local retailers the step up they deserve.
Let’s raise one arm in the air for local producers!
Written by Lauren Ottaway
Wednesday, 23 December 2009
Local Shops Make a Heart-Warming Christmas
In this day of superstores, rushed and faceless online shopping, it is easy to forget what Christmas is all about. Some of our Wedgers have been re-inspired and injected with that Christmas spirit, and all they did was take a five minute walk to their local high street. Here are two stories to hopefully inspire you to shop locally this Christmas:
Camden is bustling this time of year and one of our Wedgers was struggling in a large organic wholesaler, with last-minute food purchases on her list. Cranberry sauce: an essential item which is inevitably sold out during the festive season. She shouldered her way through the hungry crowd and found an employee hurriedly restocking the diminishing pile of home-made mince pies. Querying him about the absence of cranberry sauce and also the alternative red currant jelly, she finished her shopping and queued to pay, without either. In the line she suddenly turned to a heavy tap on her shoulder. The employee, large grin on his face dropped a large jar of fresh cranberry sauce into her basket. He had found a stray bottle in his storeroom and had been looking for the lucky Wedger for fifteen minutes! It is tiny acts like this which make not only our shopping experiences special, but they also lift our spirits- especially Christmas spirits.
Another one of our busy little last-minute Christmas Wedgers was trying to buy a Christmas stocking for a party the next day. This, surely, was an item which is never out of stock she thought. Along her local Barnes High Street she searched hurriedly for a stocking, having bought everything to stuff it with previously. She came across a beautiful stocking hanging in the window of an independent gift store crammed with trinkets and delicate presents. Inside, she searched the shelves for this festive miracle but she could not find the stocking anywhere. The shopkeeper, with a warm smile that nearly swallowed her entire face explained that she bought if from another shop and it was only a display. But it did not end here; the shopkeeper took the stocking down from her festive display and sold it to the ecstatic Wedger.
This is what Christmas is all about; going out of your way just that little bit for somebody else. And your local high street is the perfect place to inspire Christmas spirit. Merry Christmas!
Written by Lauren Ottaway
Camden is bustling this time of year and one of our Wedgers was struggling in a large organic wholesaler, with last-minute food purchases on her list. Cranberry sauce: an essential item which is inevitably sold out during the festive season. She shouldered her way through the hungry crowd and found an employee hurriedly restocking the diminishing pile of home-made mince pies. Querying him about the absence of cranberry sauce and also the alternative red currant jelly, she finished her shopping and queued to pay, without either. In the line she suddenly turned to a heavy tap on her shoulder. The employee, large grin on his face dropped a large jar of fresh cranberry sauce into her basket. He had found a stray bottle in his storeroom and had been looking for the lucky Wedger for fifteen minutes! It is tiny acts like this which make not only our shopping experiences special, but they also lift our spirits- especially Christmas spirits.
Another one of our busy little last-minute Christmas Wedgers was trying to buy a Christmas stocking for a party the next day. This, surely, was an item which is never out of stock she thought. Along her local Barnes High Street she searched hurriedly for a stocking, having bought everything to stuff it with previously. She came across a beautiful stocking hanging in the window of an independent gift store crammed with trinkets and delicate presents. Inside, she searched the shelves for this festive miracle but she could not find the stocking anywhere. The shopkeeper, with a warm smile that nearly swallowed her entire face explained that she bought if from another shop and it was only a display. But it did not end here; the shopkeeper took the stocking down from her festive display and sold it to the ecstatic Wedger.
This is what Christmas is all about; going out of your way just that little bit for somebody else. And your local high street is the perfect place to inspire Christmas spirit. Merry Christmas!
Written by Lauren Ottaway
Wednesday, 16 December 2009
This Wouldn't Happen at Westfield
Walking home past the swans bobbing on the Thames, laden with Christmas gifts, decorations, wrapping paper and mince pies I reminisced; that was Christmas shopping bliss. You must be thinking I am crazy, no? I had just spent three hours Christmas shopping at my local Barnes High Street and I had returned smiling.
Like everybody else in London, I left my Christmas shopping to the last minute; and my family Christmas lunch was tomorrow because we were going away next weekend. I prepared myself for a bustling high street- a rugby scrum of desperate, clawing and snatching people hungry for the perfect, last-minute gift. I imagined a traffic jam from a pile up of banged-up buggies, a twisted mess of plastic shopping bags and screaming children. I wouldn’t even dare take the car out today, not after last month’s traumatic ordeal in the Westfield car park.
As I got closer to the high street I could still hear the liquid dance of the Thames... where was the foreboding hum of busy shoppers?
The small independent gift shop I had in mind for teachers’ gifts for my son’s school had two tiny aisles and little jangly breakables hanging precariously from random shelves. I love these tiny shops but I wondered how much of a battering it would have received this Christmas.
To my surprise, there were no buggies in this store, only a handful of quiet customers and soft Christmas music. I breathed a sigh of relief and stepped into the cosy little gift store. I was surrounded by unique gifts and funky little knick-knacks. That is what I love about the local high street; eccentric, individual retailers where every gift is unique. I remember being at a function last week and seeing three women wearing the same gold leaf chain. I didn’t want the mass-produced product. Trusting in my local high street, I can be confident in knowing that my Christmas will be cracking with quirky presents.
I spent three magical Christmas hours shopping along Barnes High Street. I was greeted with smiles, mulled wine and local Christmas cheer. I walked to my own beat, not offensive, booming music. This is what Christmas is all about: coming together, family, friends and community. There were no queues and blind customer ‘service’; I felt like I was a part of a festive fellowship of people enjoying the local shopping experience at this special time of year.
So I urge you, take a walk down your local high street this Christmas- you will be surprised what you find, and will probably discover a little independent shop you never knew existed. For a calmer Christmas shopping experience- stay local.
Written by Lauren Ottaway
Like everybody else in London, I left my Christmas shopping to the last minute; and my family Christmas lunch was tomorrow because we were going away next weekend. I prepared myself for a bustling high street- a rugby scrum of desperate, clawing and snatching people hungry for the perfect, last-minute gift. I imagined a traffic jam from a pile up of banged-up buggies, a twisted mess of plastic shopping bags and screaming children. I wouldn’t even dare take the car out today, not after last month’s traumatic ordeal in the Westfield car park.
As I got closer to the high street I could still hear the liquid dance of the Thames... where was the foreboding hum of busy shoppers?
The small independent gift shop I had in mind for teachers’ gifts for my son’s school had two tiny aisles and little jangly breakables hanging precariously from random shelves. I love these tiny shops but I wondered how much of a battering it would have received this Christmas.
To my surprise, there were no buggies in this store, only a handful of quiet customers and soft Christmas music. I breathed a sigh of relief and stepped into the cosy little gift store. I was surrounded by unique gifts and funky little knick-knacks. That is what I love about the local high street; eccentric, individual retailers where every gift is unique. I remember being at a function last week and seeing three women wearing the same gold leaf chain. I didn’t want the mass-produced product. Trusting in my local high street, I can be confident in knowing that my Christmas will be cracking with quirky presents.
I spent three magical Christmas hours shopping along Barnes High Street. I was greeted with smiles, mulled wine and local Christmas cheer. I walked to my own beat, not offensive, booming music. This is what Christmas is all about: coming together, family, friends and community. There were no queues and blind customer ‘service’; I felt like I was a part of a festive fellowship of people enjoying the local shopping experience at this special time of year.
So I urge you, take a walk down your local high street this Christmas- you will be surprised what you find, and will probably discover a little independent shop you never knew existed. For a calmer Christmas shopping experience- stay local.
Written by Lauren Ottaway
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