Online food shopping in Leeds
If you’re feeling unwell, isolating or are unable to leave your room, then knowing how to get grocery shopping or over the counter medicines is very important.
We’ve put a list together of places in Leeds that should deliver to you — we’ve not tried all of them (yet!) so please let us know if any don’t, or any top tips you’ve got!
If you’re able to leave your home, then there’s loads of shops in Leeds for you that are open. Find out about shopping for essential items.
Top tips
- Remember, delivery slots can be announced, or released at different times of the day (or night!) Keep checking back regularly as new slots become available.
- Be prepared — having a decent collection of essentials in your kitchen makes things much easier and cheaper. Make sure you’ve got coffee and tea, long life milk, tinned items (soups,beans etc), dried goods like pasta, noodles, lentils and rice in your cupboards. Having a few meals in means there’s no urgent rush for an online delivery.
- Plan in advance — if you know you’re going to be spending quite a few days at home, place your next order well ahead of when you need it. You have more chance of getting a slot, and it takes away the urgency.
- Have a shopping buddy — knowing you’ve got someone who can bring round a couple of bags from the supermarket if you’re staying in can take away any concerns you may have. Offer to do the same for your friends too if you’re able to! (If you’re a new student, we know you might not have got to know lots of people yet, but as you meet more — get your shopping buddy sorted.)
- Some places will have click and collect slots — although these won’t be delivered to your door, your shopping buddy could bring them round.
- If you’re interested in food subscription boxes — this link from Mashable is about the seven of the best food subscription boxes available in the UK.
- Some supermarkets may need a UK phone number to sign up for online delivery. You can find out how to get one of these if you don’t have one, plus other great information on our essential items webpage.
The big four
You’ll probably know these — Asda, Morrisons, Sainsburys, Tesco. Usually you’ll be able to find a slot, but be aware at certain times they can get booked up.
If you’re a disabled student, find out more about Morrisons doorstep delivery.
Amazon
You can order lots of essential supplies and items from Amazon and Amazon Fresh. If you have an Amazon prime account, most items can be ordered to arrive the next day.
Other supermarkets that deliver
Most of these are familiar, but there’s a few you may not have been aware of.
- Ocado
- Iceland (they do a Student Essentials selection!)
- The Coop — As well as delivering, they do a click and collect service from your nearest supermarket, perfect for that shopping buddy to pick up
- Beelivery — really good local independent delivery drivers who usually deliver very quickly. This is usually from local convenience stores.
Local businesses
If you’re new to Leeds, then here are some local businesses which offer a wide range of food delivery options — from veg boxes to ready meals.
- Leeds City Market’s Facebook page — local traders with fresh ingredients.
- My Deli Fresh — lots of fresh ingredients, but also a range of store cupboard items too.
- Hungry Panda — Supermarket which allows ordering in Mandarin
- Sing Kee — Another supermarket which allows online ordering in Mandarin
- Market Garden Leeds — a big range of fruit and vegetables delivered in a box — great for making healthy and warming meals.
- Organic Pantry and Riverford — two more local farms supplying fruit and vegetables.
- Cook north Leeds — mainly meals that have already been prepared, which might be just the job if you’re not feeling up to cooking.
- J Kellet Foods limited — seems to be a wide range of goods here.
- ParsleyBox — A wide range of meals available, which have the added advantage of not needing to be stored in a fridge or freezer.
Students in halls of residence
Don’t forget you can join the Residence Life Facebook group — this is a great place to ask questions, get help and make arrangements with your neighbours.
Mobile apps and social media
Most of the supermarkets will have a mobile app. You’ll find them on Google Play or the App Store.
Check out local Facebook groups — often businesses will advertise on there, and particularly items like vegetable boxes which tend to be seasonal.
Medicines and pharmacy delivery
Many of the supermarkets listed above will deliver over the counter medicines — please check with them beforehand in case there is any specific rules they may have.
Many of the national pharmacies will deliver medication to you. Here’s some useful links:
Additionally, your local chemist may have a delivery service. Find your local pharmacy.
We recommend you register with a doctor when you move to Leeds.
If you take regular medicines, please make sure you have enough for two weeks.
Let us know what you think
What are your top tips for online grocery shopping? Have we missed anything out, or any of these not worth recommending? Contact us at studentcommunications@leeds.ac.uk so we can keep this up to date.
