Food producers band together for Tassie #togetherfortassie

Artisan food producers are banding together to deliver “essential goodies” to locals — and they’re hoping Tasmanians will rally behind the project to support the struggling retail sector.

ARTISAN food producers who have lost their usual income streams in the wake of COVID-19 are banding together to deliver “essential goodies” to locals.

And they’re hoping Tasmanians will rally behind the project so it may inject some cash — and hope — into the struggling retail sector.

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Bruny Island Cheese Co. will on Sunday launch a home delivery service offering “weekly essentials packs” with the company’s cheese and bread as well as products such as butter, milk, meat, olives and coffee from other businesses.

Bruny Island Cheese and Beer Company General Manager Tori Keygan, Bruny Island Cheese and Beer Company CEO and founder Nick Haddow and Huon Valley Meat Company CEO Bec Lynd at the new pop up store in Argyle St, Hobart. PICTURE: Chris Kidd

“My team has been working flat out this week getting it up and running,” owner Nick Haddow said.

“We are filling holes that have opened in our world, having lost half our business in the last week, but we’re also helping other artisan producers rather than everyone trying to do it all differently.”

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He said the cheese company had been forced to close its tiny Salamanca store due to a lack of trade, but had opened a pop-up outlet at its North Hobart warehouse for customers to pick up online orders.

“People’s behaviour has changed quite quickly and they’re looking to buy online,” Mr Haddow said.

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He said the packs would start at $80 for a box of weekly staples, plus $7 to deliver within Hobart and surrounding suburbs.

“We’ve never done home delivery before but the good thing about being a small business is that we can be quite agile,” Mr Haddow said.

“Bear in mind, we’ve created this in a matter of days so as this grows we’ll add more producers.”

For details visit brunyislandcheese.com.au

If you have a story of kindness, caring idea or know a Tasmanian doing good deeds, please get in touch with us on Facebook or use the hashtag #togetherfortassie on social media.