We have always listed a selection of Clive's Pies but we are going to be buying directly in the near future.  This means that the full range will soon be available, including their Gluten Free varieties.

Further details will be available once this is up and running.

Currently, all Lembas invoices display the quantity of a particular item that you have ordered and are invoiced for in the format of decimals.  So, when you get less than a whole case; say you have only got 2 singles from a case of 24, your invoice will show that you have received 0.08 of a case.

Now, if you prefer, there is also the option to have these quantities displayed using the “slash” notation that we ourselves use internally.  For example, if you have a single case this will be shown as “1c”.  Furthermore, if you have one case and three singles this will be shown as “1c, 3s”. 

If you would prefer to have the information on your invoices displayed in this way, on all future invoices, please let us know.

Forest Foods haven't increased their prices in quite some time but why should they be the only supplier not to make changes as a result of the current commodity supply problems?

Anyway, effective immediately, there have been price rises on almost the entire range.  Please note however, that a couple of prices have not changed and a few have even come down in price.

As always, please check your invoice carefully.

As well as the unprecedented price rises across the board for a huge number of products we are also experiencing problems with sourcing a number of commodities.  The following commodities will all be unavailable until the next crops are harvested;

• Lexia Raisins
• Hunza Apricots
• Organic Long Grain White Rice
• Organic Goji Berries

This is due to a mix of poor harvests and unexpectedly high demand.

We have also had problems sourcing some of the new Provamel Organic Soya milks.  Once again, a manufacturer has not seen fit to ensure continuity of supply for the period of the changeover.  When this has been added to the fact that we received almost no warning of the change, it has meant that we have sometimes been unable to secure enough stock to cover our requirements. 

The National Pure Water Association is asking us to bring your attention to the contentious issue of the possible fluoridation of our drinking water.

Setting aside all the arguments for and against adding fluoride to the water we drink [and there are lots], there is still the issue of choice.  Whether you believe in the benefits or are concerned about the possible side effects, none of us appears to have much choice or any say in the matter. 

As with Genetically Modified Organisms, the jury is still out on the benefits or otherwise of water fluoridisation.  What we at Lembas object to is the fact that unwillingly, and unknowingly, we are the test subjects.  While we are totally opposed to animal testing in any form or for any reason, we don't agree that humans should be used as test subjects either especially without our consent.

If you’d like more information about this issue or tips on how to make your opinion known contact the National Pure Water Association, 42 Huntington Road, York, YO31 8RE  on 0208 220 9168, e-mail info@npwa.org.uk or visit their website http://www.npwa.org.uk

Lembas is very pleased to announce the introduction of a range of frozen Samosas, Bhajees, Pakoras and Vegetable Rolls.  Some of you will remember the short lived Arshi range of Samosas that proved to be very popular a while ago but which fell victim to grant money-itis [take away the grant used to set things up and there’s not much left].  Thankfully, we’ll have no such problems with Omar Foods who started making Samosas for local Asian shops over 20 years ago.

At the start of the year Omar Foods moved into new purpose built premises on Carlisle Street and with over 150 people currently peeling onions by hand we’re not talking about any half-baked effort here.  The operation is completely meat free and all products are made by hand and cooked fresh nightly.

At present the range consists of the following products;

We have made the decision to scale back on our paper catalogues.  We feel that it’s become increasingly stale, clunky and it's not very easy to find your way around.  The final nail in the coffin of the paper catalogue however is that, because it’s only brought out every four months or so, the information listed is quickly out of date and inaccurate. 

Therefore we have decided to concentrate our efforts on keeping the online Lembas catalogue up to date.  After all, this is already the only place where the full range of items that Lembas can supply is listed and it’s much easier to keep this information relevant. 

However, as there are often a number of day to day issues that we feel you should know about, we also intend to bring out a regular news letter.  Hopefully this will keep you up to date with the exciting and fast moving world that is Vegetarian Wholefoods. 

If you’d like to be kept up to date with the Lembas’ newsletter please let us know.  We’d be grateful if you would let us know if you’d prefer the newsletter to be posted out to you or whether you’d rather be e-mailed with updates.

We start with the Wholefood equivalent of the Hokey-Cokey.  First it was Provamel, then it was Alpro and now it’s Provamel again it seems.  Confused?  I haven’t even started yet.  Not sure what the overall idea is as we’ve been told several versions but the range of Soya milks etc available to the independent Wholefood trade has been radically changed.  Out goes the incredibly popular Sweetened with Calcium [Blue packs].  In come a couple of lines we were told we’d never see again.  For the record, the following lines are what we will be able to supply in future and they are ALL Organic;

Not especially exciting is it?

Swedish Glace have made some changes to their existing range which now comes in fancy new packaging but have also introduced new Wild Blueberry flavour soya ice cream [I can just see the Swedish Glace staff up at Fox House stripping the Blueberry bushes every year!].  In addition the range now includes a 1.3 litre Family Size tub which does not come in the Mocha Chocolate flavour, so far at least. automatically be substituted.

Fancy getting away from it all? 

If you fancy a retreat to a beautiful & isolated part of the British Isles then this could be just what you are looking for.  Some very old friends of Lembas are looking to relocate so this very unusual opportunity has arisen.

If you are interested or just curious Click here for more details.