LEMBAS started out as
a Bakery in 1982, supplying unprocessed additive free,
healthy, breads.
Our name is taken from "Lord
of the Rings" by J.R.R. Tolkein.
LEMBAS was the bread that the
Elves took with them on long journeys,
a light food giving sustenance and well being.
LEMBAS = ELF BREAD =
HEALTH BREAD!!
Corny and sad ... but true!
The bakery is now a separate business called the Real Bread Bakehouse,
which carries on the "elfy bread" tradition!
LEMBAS was set up by JON & LESLEY SWANNELL in 1982. After moving down from Durham, where they had a wholefood market stall, Jon and Lesley started a bakery selling "elfy bread" at the back of a small wholefood cafe at 5 Bridge Street, Buxton called Dodo's. Dodo's was run by Pete Wigley, who went on to run the wholefood cafes Singing Hinnies and Mr. BB's in Sheffield. Sadly, Pete died of a brain tumour a number of years ago.
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Dodo's subsequently became Dandelion Days, run by Denise and Alex James (who now run a catering business supplying Chatsworth). The current owners of the old Dodo's are the Bridge Street Workers' Co-operative.
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LEMBAS moved to Sheffield and started selling a small range of Wholefoods in 1983. The bakery became a separate business called The Real Bread Bakehouse. During this time, we effectively acted as an agent in the North for the now defunct NOVA (they became Essential Trading) who operated out of Bristol. Essential is now the biggest wholefood business in the SouthWest of England (they are based at the Fishponds Estate, in Bristol). NOVA was started by Paul Grassick, who is currently LEMBAS' company secretary.
DAVE WOODALL
(he's in the red hat in the picture above - pretending not
to be a hippy) is an old friend of Jon and Lesley's. He worked with them
at LEMBAS when
they first started up in Sheffield. He left LEMBAS
to work at the Down to Earth Wholefood Collective, and then worked at
Hiziki, in Nottingham. Dave bought LEMBAS
from Jon and Leslie in 1993
...they retired to Cornwall on the proceeds.
Since 1993, the business has grown at the rate of about
15% p.a. and the year 2000-01 was our first "million plus" year.
We currently list about 5,000 lines... (you can search
this website for the lines we list). And we can obtain nearly 10,500
lines.
So, if you can't find what you are looking for, please ask
us!
LEMBAS is a thriving small
business currently consisting of 11 full time staff and 7 part time staff. We are a committed, enthusiastic team, with
a good, if somewhat warped sense of humour
The full-timers are currently:
Driver:
Another new addition to the driving crew, Ev filled in for a while on a temporary basis. He was so good we abducted his family and are forcing him to work full time.
Driver:
Our newest addition, Chris has been involved in a number of businesses before joining Lembas. Another vegan [there's a lot of us about] and very committed to animal rights Chris has brought a fresh eye and perspective to the way we do things at Lembas.
Were-house:
Chris should have known better but, rather than run for the hills when we asked him to stay, he's now involved in keeping the warehouse on its feet.
Apart from slumping lifelessly on the settee, in his own time Chris also gigs regularly with his band. Yep, another punk band, since you asked.
Cash and Carry:
Trained as a chef, Ian worked at Muchachas (Mexican restaurant in Sheffield and Nottingham) before starting at Lembas. Running a busy kitchen was perfect training for working in the chaos of Lembas though there are less sharp implements to hand to re-enforce discipline.
Ian is currently over seeing the Cash & Carry part of Lembas.
Cash and Carry:
Malcolm is our new Dad and Uncle. A superb driver and friendly face, he is proving to be a real asset to the Lembas crew.
As ever, as time marches on we shall wear him down till he is a miserable drunk like the rest of us!
MUAH HA HA HA
Buyer:
Also Special projects supervisor and generally all things to all people...
Has worked full time since time immemorial but still hasn't qualified for any long service award. Specialises in eating very hot chillies and going without sleep. Sadly Matt was infected with the football virus several years ago and hasn't been rational since. Hails from that weeeest of counties, Rutland.
Office:
Mick is Steve's brother [the better looking one] so no nepotism involved in him working at Lembas in any shape or form.
Mick helped keep Lembas' fat out of the fire numerous times by filling in, sometimes at very short notice. On one of these occasions he hit his head and so, when a full time vacancy arose, he applied for the job.
Driver:
Mike joined us a while back now and has made a very welcome addition to the team. Mike comes from a graphics and design background so we hope to twist his arm and pick his brains to develop the Lembas catalogue.
Office:
Nick joined us having worked for the Post Office for a number of years. Supposedly he got tired of working with all the odd characters who infest the Post Office!!! Hmmm, not sure about that. Nick splits his time between general warehouse stuff and the packing department at present.
Office:
Nick has been with us since the end of 2001 and has pretty much done everything there is to do at Lembas. Currently, he's more than likely to be the person you speak to when you call us.
Mail nick@lembas.co.uk for further details.
Simon 'The bottle is always half empty' Woodallson
Little Tin God:
Little Tin God ovnce again.
Has more lives than the proverbial cat. How many times have we thought it's all been over now?
What he mainly does is lounge about feeling either euphoric [drink & drugs working] or feeling draggy, being surly and wishing willpower could be grafted on [drugs wearing off].
But, if you want to know what's happening at Lembas, look no further. Another one who specialises in eating very hot chillies and being drunk. Dorzet lad.
The part-timers are currently:
System Administrator:
Scouse Git...
ex Beanies (aka Sheffield Wholefoods co-operative 1988-91). Worked part-time at Lembas as a driver from 1991 till Jon and Lesley sold the business, when he took on a full time role sharing the office work with Matt. Designed Lembas's database and this website. Also spent 8 years making and promoting tempeh, but gave it all up to become database architect and mentor to the technical team at the International Centre for Digital Content in Liverpool. The weekly travel to Scouseland was becoming a bind, so after 5 years he's back working in sunny Sheffield with alpharooms.com. Still hangs around Lembas occasionally, scoffing all the organic freebies he can manage whilst pretending to fix the computers.
Bagging:
George started back in August '02. She's mainly been working in the warehouse three days a week. She currently keeps the packing department in line but is increasingly becoming involved in the buying side of things too.
George has worked all over the country for a number of other wholesalers before washing up at Lembas. Let this be a warning to you all.
Bagging:
Jez has been beavering away in the warehouse and packing department for a while now. The youngest member of staff [someone's got to be] Jez practises irritating the more "senior" members of staff with his choice of music. Call that music? In my day music had etc etc etc...
Driver:
Another old punk, Julian has recently joined us for a couple of days a week. Before this he was one of the founders of Wild Carrot, the Wholefood Shop [and more] in Buxton.
Were-house:
The clutter buster has arrived. If you have any clutter that needs clearing, physically or emotionally, he is your Messiah. View his lovely web thingy-bob at http://www.cluttercleared.com
Phil currently keeps the warehouse organised which is a bit like painting the Forth Bridge - endless and thankless!
Were-house:
Robin has been involved in co-ops since way back, poor man. Yet another member of staff who can [and will] bore you to death about the F-word. He is also mainly here at base working with Chris in the warehouse with the extra responsibilty of keeping a roof over our heads. ...What leaks?
Bagging:
Sheffield Lass. Another one of Lembas' scrap metal heads and one who is physically unable to turn down tea. Tru works in the packing department.
Has so far had the good sense not to be drawn into a full-time role cos the long-term plan is to run away to live in France. Who's jealous?
We are committed to the principles of ethical trading and growing, recycling. We are active in the campaign against the genetic manipulation of foodstuffs, and actively encourage the sale of organic goods...you don't have to be veggie to work here but it helps...We aspire to a world where resources are managed sustainably. However, we are no Luddites; in fact we embrace modern technology where it serves us.