I swapped Aldi and Sainsbury’s dairy for a local farm delivery
Living near both Aldi and Sainsbury’s, I used to buy all my groceries from these stores. I’d alternate between them based on what I required – Aldi for bakery items, Sainsbury’s for fresh produce. However, a few weeks ago, I felt it was time for a shift. Our household consumes a significant amount of yoghurt and milk, yet I was continually let down by their quality.
The supermarket milk always seemed tasteless and watery, while the Greek-style yoghurt was thin and frequently spoilt shortly after opening. Since I live in a small coastal community and am keen to support local businesses, I decided to explore having my milk and yoghurt delivered from a nearby farm.
Initially, the concept of home-delivered milk brought back memories of the tepid, nearly-sour milk cartons from my primary school years.
However, I put those memories aside and, following some research, stumbled upon Plurenden Manor Farm — a family-run dairy about an hour away that produces award-winning products.
Perusing their website, I was astounded by the range — beyond milk, cream, and yoghurt, there’s non-dairy milk, milkshakes, cream cheese, eggs, butter, kefir, and even fresh fruit juices from a local vineyard, Biddenden. They also provide fresh bread and jam doughnuts, although I haven’t sampled those yet.
Placing an order was straightforward. After emailing them, I was promptly added to their ‘milk portal’ for regular orders and payments.
When my first order arrived, I felt like a child on Christmas morning — eager to see what was inside.
I purchased a pint of whole milk in a glass bottle, some eggs, two litres of semi-skimmed milk, Greek-style yoghurt, and natural live yoghurt.
The milk was delightfully smooth, creamy, and packed with more flavour than supermarket alternatives. The eggs and natural live yoghurt were excellent, but the Greek-style yoghurt was the star of the show — it’s as thick as clotted cream and incredibly creamy, perfect when paired with homemade granola and honey.
Since that initial order, I’ve made three more, turning it into a weekly tradition. I can’t see myself returning to supermarket dairy products unless I’m in a pinch and need emergency provisions.
The only drawback is occasionally misjudging our needs — there are just two of us in our household, so it’s easy to over-order and then rush to consume everything.
However, what took me aback the most was the price. I anticipated weekly fresh dairy deliveries to be costly, but they’re surprisingly reasonable. While slightly more expensive than supermarket items, the quality justifies the cost in my view.
For instance, a pint of whole milk from Sainsbury’s costs 85p, while local milk in a reusable glass bottle is £1.20. Six large free-range eggs are priced at £2.10 at Tesco, compared to £2.40 locally.
I also have the flexibility to modify my order each week based on our consumption. Some weeks I spend just £10; other weeks, I indulge a bit more — particularly when friends or family come over and I want to spoil them with top-notch local produce.
Supporting local businesses feels brilliant, and I intend to continue my weekly milk and yoghurt deliveries. Who knows? Perhaps next time, I’ll even give the fresh bread and jam doughnuts a go.
