What guides us
Real ingredients
We look for real, recognisable ingredients and food and drink that lets those ingredients speak for themselves.
Provenance
Our Scottish roots matter. We look to Scottish and UK ingredients and producers wherever we can, while discovering brilliant things from further afield too.
Thoughtful choices
Local, organic and provenance don't always fit neatly together. We look at the bigger picture and would rather be open about the choices we make than hide behind sweeping claims.
Natural, organic & provenance
Natural and organic don't mean the same thing.
Organic is a specific production standard, while for us, natural is about staying close to real, recognisable ingredients and thoughtful production.
We're proud of our Scottish roots and look to Scottish and UK ingredients and producers wherever we can. We also value organic production where it makes sense and sourcing allows.
Sometimes local, organic and provenance don't neatly overlap. When that happens, we look at the bigger picture — the ingredients, where they come from, how something is made and, above all, the quality of the finished product.
Where a product is certified organic, we'll always make that clear.
Why isn't our Scottish honey organic?
The Scottish Bee Company is a good example of why local, natural and organic don't always mean the same thing.
Producing certified organic honey in the UK can be challenging because bees naturally forage across a wide area, while organic standards place strict requirements on the land surrounding their hives and how those hives are managed.
For The Scottish Bee Company, keeping its honey Scottish and prioritising the health and welfare of its bees are central to the way it works. That's why its honey isn't sold as certified organic.
Instead, The Scottish Bee Company works with Scottish bee farmers and independently tests its honey as part of its approach to quality and traceability.
Supporting pollinators with RePollinate
Pollinators have been part of our story from the very beginning.
RePollinate is our independently run sister charity, working to protect the UK’s pollinators by creating wildflower habitats and inspiring communities and businesses to take action.
We’re proud to support its work and remain closely involved, helping more people understand the importance of pollinators and the habitats they depend on.
Always learning
Doing things properly means being willing to ask questions.
Food, farming and sourcing aren't always straightforward. As the Natural Larder Collective grows, we'll keep learning, asking questions and seeking guidance from experts and relevant industry bodies to help us make informed choices and communicate them clearly.
FAQs
We don't use “natural” as another word for organic. For us, it's about real, recognisable ingredients, thoughtful production and food and drink that stays close to its ingredients and origins.
No. Some products you'll find at Natural Larder Collective are certified organic and others aren't. Where a product is certified organic, we'll make that clear.
Organic beekeeping standards include strict requirements around hive management and the area in which bees forage. Because bees naturally travel across a wide area, meeting those requirements in the UK can be challenging.
The Scottish Bee Company chooses to keep its honey Scottish and prioritise the health and welfare of its bees. Its honey isn't sold as certified organic and is independently tested as part of its approach to quality and traceability.
Alongside our own brands, we stock products from independent producers, each with their own approach to sourcing, production and certification. Any certification shown relates to that particular brand or product unless we clearly say otherwise.
Good food, thoughtfully chosen
At the heart of it all is really good food.
Natural Larder Collective is a place to discover brilliant food and drink — from our own growing family of brands to independent producers and makers we genuinely love.
Full of flavour, made with care and, most importantly, worth sharing.