Citylife in Lichfield September 2020

Waste Not, Want Not!
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Beginning life in April 2019 and operating
from a small cabin as a zero-waste
supplier of dried food and groceries,
home basics and body products, The Lichfield
Pantry, based at The Plant Plot Garden
Centre, has since gone from strength-tostrength.
Owner, Sam, wanted to address the issue of
plastic packaging and was concerned about the
amount of rubbish that the public throws away on
a daily basis. Her aim was simple – offer people a
plastic-free alternative to their favourite products,
with items being as locally sourced as possible and
keeping a low carbon footprint.
The business had a humble start, with a few
staple dried food items being available. However,
following the move to larger premises within the
same site, owner Sam incorporated freezers, many
more loose food products and bring-your-owncontainer
items too. But the story of success
doesn’t end there…
The opportunity arose to take over the
café/bistro on-site at the garden centre, and Sam
saw the potential to realise her dream and create
a Zero Waste Farm Shop, along with a Deli and
Café, for her business.
Now, housed within a large, open plan space,
The Lichfield Pantry consists of a Café serving
breakfasts, lunches and light bites, plus tea, coffee
and cake; a well-stocked Deli, which is due to
open soon, will feature fresh olives, hummus,
peppers, dips, homemade Scotch eggs, fresh meats
and pickles, plus homemade cakes and scones; and
the new and improved Zero Waste Shop.
It couldn’t be more simple to give zero waste
shopping a try. The shop is filled with an array of
loose pulses, pasta, rice, crisps, cereals and nuts,
and you simply take your own Tupperware
containers and fill them yourself! There are
several freezers packed with loose frozen items,
such as chips, vegetables, berries, pastries, pizza
dough and pasties – once again, you can take your
own containers and fill to your heart’s content!
Not only does this mean you are not sending yet
more harmful plastic packaging to landfill or to the
oceans, it also works out cheaper as packaging on
products is expensive and carries a mark-up on
top of the price of your item.
And it doesn’t just go for food either… at The
Lichfield Pantry you can take your own laundry
and beauty bottles and refill them with hand soap,
laundry detergent, fabric softener and washing up
liquid, or try one of the many handmade soap
tablets, shampoo bars or natural deodorants that
are available.
All home and cleaning products are fully-vegan,
animal cruelty-free, eco-friendly, contain no palm
oil and are as ethical as can be.
The Lichfield Pantry Zero Waste Farm Shop,
Café & Deli is open daily from 9am-5pm and can
be found at The Plant Plot Garden Centre,
Stafford Road, Lichfield, WS13 8JA. Alternatively
visit www.thelichfield pantry.co.uk
Dining Out - A City of Flavours