Two local food and drink producers are expanding as their regional baked and sourced products have hit the shelves of a local co-operative.

The Fresh Fish Shop, based in Sussex, is one of the latest suppliers to have its products added to the Local Flavours range offered by Southern Co-op.

Existing Sussex supplier, Lorama Foods, has also expanded its range in Southern Co-op stores with new protein nature bombs for a nutrition brand.

Southern Co-op’s Local Flavours range currently has around 200 local suppliers and 200 stores in 11 different counties across the south of England stocking local products with an assortment of products from essential eggs and milk to luxury chocolate and top tipples.

Matt Elliott, Retail Buying & Services Manager who looks after Local Flavours at Southern Co-op, said: “Both of these brands are businesses which have a focus on ethics and sustainability – something we strive for and encourage people to consider when doing their shopping.

“We are excited to have them on board and hope our customers love them just as much as we do.”

The existing Sussex supplier, Lorama Foods, has been working with TRIBE – a natural performance nutrition brand and community of 50,000 athletes.

The Bosham-based bakery has developed three products which will be available in 54 different stores in Berkshire, Sussex, Hampshire, Surrey, the Isle of Wight and Wiltshire. These are Choc Caramel & Almond Nature Bombs, Chocolate & Hazelnut butter Nature Bombs, and White Chocolate & Berry Nature Bombs.

Rob Martineau, TRIBE Co-Founder, said: “We began working with the wonderful team at Lorama, in Bosham, in January 2020 to create our Nature Bomb range – a delicious vegan-chocolate enrobed, nut-butter filled protein ball. We’re excited to launch these in Southern Co-op stores.

“Alongside our products, we also wanted to keep fighting human trafficking and put on running events for the TRIBE community to raise funds. From the start many of these runs have been on the North and South Downs and hope our next one, COVID-allowing, will be at Tillingbourne.”

The Fresh Fish Shop, which has a mission to take Sussex seafood nationwide as well as a commitment to sourcing only the best quality, sustainably-caught fish, has a store in Haywards Heath and also supplies packaged fresh fish wholesale, to retailers across the country.

The Fresh Fish Shop has celebrated several awards having been crowned one of Britain’s best producers winning the regional award for London and the South East in the Great British Food Awards 2020, and scooping coveted gold stars from the Guild of Fine Foods for its homemade smoked fish pates.

Cod Garlic And Chorizo Bake

Master Fishmonger Sebastian Candelon, who took over the business from a family friend in 2013, said: “The UK is really waking up to shopping locally, and we wholeheartedly support this ethos. Wherever possible we source our fish from UK shores, including from small day boats along the south coast – from Sussex all the way across to Cornwall – using low impact fishing methods.

“All of our produce is clearly labelled with information about how and where each fish is caught for complete transparency from sea to serve.”

Southern Co-op, the regional, independent co-operative, will be stocking four of its products – Cod Garlic And Chorizo Bake, Smoked Mackerel Pate, Smoked Salmon Pate, and White Fish Thai Green Curry.

The products will be on offer in a total of 11 branches of The Co-operative Food in Bromley, Burgess Hill in Junction Road and London Road, Chichester’s Stockbridge Road, Chislehurst, Chobham in Bagshot Road, Horsham in Guildford Road, Southbourne’s Main Road, Wadhurst’s Sparrows Green Road, Hove’s Western Road, and Yapton.

To find out more about the Southern Co-op’s Local Flavours range, visit www.thesouthernco-operative.co.uk/food/local-flavours/.