Northumberland fruit and veg firm sees surge in demand for home deliveries

Laidlers Food Services are receiving over 300 enquiries daily and are currently delivering to over 250 households – a figure increasing by the day.

Many of the enquries are from residents who have been unable to book a slot for an online supermarket delivery.

As a result, the Seaton Delaval based firm is being kept busy meeting demand.

Owner Harry Laidler, whose great-grandfather founded the company in 1913, said: “We supply a lot of hotels and restaurants but, in the current situation, thought it would be good to help people who can’t get out of their own homes at the moment.

“We’ve been delivering to homes across Northumberland and North Tyneside including to the north of Alnwick and the Rothbury area.”

Orders of fresh fruit and veg boxes, as well as dairy and other essentials can be made via its website and Facebook page, while it has even modified its app so customers can choose what they want.

“We’ve got a huge range of products on there and it’s constantly increasing as we are noting the requests from customers,” said Harry.

His 22-strong workforce has been kept busy taking, putting together and deliveries the orders but they have also received dozens of kind messages of support.

“We’ve had an unbelievable response with lots of emails and messages of thanks,” said Harry. “I’m trying to reply personally to them all because it means a lot.”

He hopes people will remember how they have helped each other out once the coronavirus pandemic is over.

“There are lots of scared people out there and it’s a hard time,” he said. “We’re just trying to do our little bit to help everyone get through these horrible times.

“It’s lovely to see communities coming together to help people out and making sure they’re happy.

“I’ve always loved meeting the public and I hope once this is over that people will still come to us.”

Laidlers can be contacted on 0191 237 3073 or visit its Facebook page.

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