Independent Gourmet Foods - Bristol

Dave N

Before I bought a box of fish from the van in Cotham today, I asked about the sustainability and origins of the catch. The man was very nice but made some sweeping statements about how everything was line caught and sustainably sourced, (although there were also prawns being sold) but could not provide any proof of certification. He said everything was on the website, which I believed, and so bought a box. The prices 'suggest' that you are buying a that may be more expensive to produce, as sustainable products often are. However the website does not mention the word sustainable, MSC certification, animal welfare standards or acknowledge the origin of any of its food. So, this could mean that the chickens are battery farmed, the pigs are intensively pen reared and the fish comes from unmanaged fisheries.

Like many people, I choose my food carefully, especially my meat products, and would like to know that I am making good choices for myself and the environment. I'm very disappointed that no information is available and that I was lead to believe that I was making a sustainable choice. I won't be buying from here again until they start to show the origins of their foods.

Richard Latham

Extremely expensive & pressure sales tactics.

I awoke to a knock at the door after working a late shift to find a chap selling boxes of meat and fish out the back of a van with a sort of chest freezer set up. It didn't look professional from the outside but the boxes inside looked good and appeared to contain much more food than they actually did. The chap seemed nice enough and in his opening line told me he supplied the Pony and Trap (local Michelin star restaurant) with the all its meats. That should have been the givaway seeing as everything he had was frozen and no way on earth would the P&T prepare any of its food from anything but fresh produce with 100% traceability.

I ended up paying for 4 boxes of meat which looked like loads but once unpacked I worked out I had over paid by more than tripple the cost of what I believe the food to be worth. I payed £195 for 24 chicken kebabs, 12 chicken breasts, 12 flavoured chicken breasts and what I was told was individual filo wrapped fillet steaks turned out to be Guinness steak and ale type pies, I doubt the steak inside was fillet.

The worrying thing was at one point he was after charging £350 for two more boxes of steaks on top which luckily I backed out of when I realised the costs were mounting. He told me he'd be back next month but obviously this only works once as a hit and run type deal. By the time you have got it in the house and unpacked you realise its not much food at all.

I'm not sure about where the food actually comes from but the sad thing is this could be a viable buisness. Although the food is incredibly overpriced it is actually very good produce and I can imagine that it would be prepared in some high end gastro pubs. I just wish he'd been a little more truthful.

Update I got a call from these guys recently seeking return buisness so clearly they do get it but it still doesnt change the sales tactics and expence. I've increased the stars to 2 but still realling from the expense of that last call

Ian Johnston

Presssure doorstep sales, reasonable quality but ridiculous amount of "glaze" make the reality of these products with 20% to 60% glaze absurdly expensive.
Best avoid

Ali Sanderson

Questionable sales tactics. Very expensive. Avoid.

Vince Fisher (Vincher)

Gourmet food for distributors at reasonable prices.

allen pocock

Brilliant food, fantastic service

nicholas milbourne

Outstanding food!!

Georgi Serafimov

Нямат мотокар, нямат количка ....разтоварване на ръка .