An Online Local Food Market Rooted in Sustainability
How to Shop with FoodLink NE
..... in four easy steps
Step 4
Collect your order each Thursday from your local FOOD HUB
FoodLink NE also delivers direct to wholesale customers on Thursdays
Step 1
The shop opens on Thursday at 4pm
Click on the SHOP HERE button on the Home page
Step 3
Producers harvest your fresh items and prepare your other products
They also update stock levels so the shop is temporarily shut on Wed and until 4pm on Thursday
Step 2
Look for a red or blue drop down menu and select the Hub you will pick up from - or choose 'Wholesale' if appropriate
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can place an order through FoodLink NE?
​
FoodLink is open for orders from businesses as well as households. We deliver to business addresses while households can access the food through pop up Food Hubs in their local community.
FoodLink uses the concept of 'Order Cycles' to list product for sale and to manage orders .... but what is an 'Order Cycle'?
​
Think of an order cycle as a shop - there will be times that you can open the door of the shop to place your order and other times when the shop will be shut for stock taking and managing orders. At FoodLink we have order cycles for business customers and others for household customers.
​So, when is it open for orders?
All customers can order between Thursday at 4pm and Tuesday at midnight. On Wednesday the shop is closed for stock management tasks.
Household customers can order as a guest or can create an account to save your details - your choice!
​
For business customers - it is essential you first contact us via EMAIL to check whether we can deliver to your area, then make an account HERE on Open Food Network (OFN), the software that runs the online market. When placing an order always remember to choose 'Wholesale Order Cycle'.
What kind of products can I buy?
​
All products listed with FoodLink have been produced by local, agroecological farms or have been produced with ingredients from these farms - but what does that really mean?
'Agroecological' is a term used to describe farming principles that work with nature rather than against it by considering the whole environment in which the farm operates including the soil, the plants, the insects, the animals, the water and the people who operate it. By respecting nature, food can be produced in a healthy and sustainable way.
'Local' can mean different things to different people. In this context we are using local to mean within Aberdeenshire however this region is pretty big so we are currently focussing on an area from Hatton of Fintray to Laurencekirk, with some exceptions, and have plans to expand to other areas of the Shire in the future.
You will find that the product range on offer also varies throughout the seasons with most of the fresh vegetables listed May to December. That is always an exciting time and something we should all look forward to, however other products will be available all year round for you to enjoy.
​Why does the product list keep changing?
That is the magic of eating local! We only list those items that are available locally at that time. You will find some products listed all year round whilst others, particularly some fresh fruits and vegetables, are driven by the seasons. Rather than seeing it as an issue, we look forward to their return then celebrate when they are back on the list again.....it's the same with your birthday - it wouldn't feel quite so special if it was every day!!
​Can I pay online?
​
Yes household customers will be prompted to pay online when you complete your order.
Business customers do not pay online and instead will be sent an invoice.
​
Where do I pick up my order?
​
FoodLink delivers to business addresses and to Food Hubs.
Food Hubs are for household customers and will advertise their own pick up or delivery arrangements. Find out more HERE.
​
I am ready to place an order - how do I do this?​
Simply click on the orange 'Shop Here' button on the home page and follow the instuctions