To change the world you have to give people a product that is better than the one they’re already consuming.
The week at Farmdrop has been very exciting. We have just moved to a next day delivery service — if a customer orders before midday, then they can get their groceries delivered the following afternoon.
Next day delivery is a big landmark in our history and is a reminder of just how far Farmdrop has come over the last couple of years.
Our mission to fix the food chain has always been ambitious but what I’ve learnt is that if you want to change the world then you have to give people a product that is better than the one they are already consuming. You can’t simply shout about your ethical credentials and expect customers to change their behaviour. As Bob Dylan once said, ‘people don’t do what they believe in, they do what’s most convenient and then repent.’
That is why we have constantly strived to make Farmdrop as convenient as possible for customers without compromising on our ethics. Farmdrop can move to next day delivery and still operate a click-to-harvest model meaning the freshest produce, zero-waste, and a 75% share of the retail price for our producers.
As with everything we do at Farmdrop, moving to next day was only possible because of the commitment towards innovation on the part of our producers and the software we have developed for them. Sourdough loaves take three days to make, while sheep only have four legs, so we need to help the baker and the farmer make sure that enough food is being prepared and at the right time. It’s complicated stuff but because of the ‘Producers’ Portal’ we have designed, farmers can see all the customers order in real-time which unlocks the click-to-harvest, zero-waste model.
As CEO of Farmdrop one of the most satisfying moments is hearing the really positive stories from our producers. Last week, we had Luke Hasell from Story Organic in the office talking to the team about the positive impact that Farmdrop has had on his farm and his back-to-basics pasture-fed rearing methods. Farmdrop has enabled him to be sure he sells the “whole animal”.
Luke’s visit was a brilliant reminder of why we need to create a route to profitability for the good guys who are looking after the land, the animals and ultimately our health.
Moving to next day delivery will mean food from the farm to your door quicker than ever before. As a customer, I can now order Luke’s amazing sustainable food while eating breakfast and cook it for supper the following day.
In a marketplace plagued by scandals and unscrupulous practices by the supermarkets, this is a really important victory. Next day shows how ethical businesses like Farmdrop can move to a much more convenient service without diluting their core mission. This is a win-win situation both for our customers and for the many farmers, growers and producers who now sell via Farmdrop.
To celebrate Farmdrop is offering free next day delivery on all orders until Saturday 25th March.
