The Essential Brand

ORGANIC, REASONABLY PRICED STORECUPBOARD ESSENTIALS AND ECOLOGICAL ALTERNATIVES

  • At our warehouse in Bristol we have a large organically certified manufacturing and packing facility from which we produce an extensive range of goods on our Essential label. Sizes range from 125g retail packs to 5kg to 25kg.
    We also offer an "own label" organic pre-pack option to our retail customers.
  • Additionally, we work with numerous manufacturers and organic farms in Europe and beyond to offer an ever expanding and competitively priced range of Essential branded goods. Examples of the diversity of this work can be found below and in the information pages on this site.

We believe in full traceability and our products are a unique selection of items developed in accordance with biodynamics, ethical and local considerations. All are organic, guaranteed GMO free, contain no unnecessary additives and are not available in your local supermarket.

 
Please click on images to enlarge and view the label

Essential Fairtrade Organic Chocolate Spreads, finalist of the NPE "best organic food product" NEW!!

Essential Trading has immense pleasure in launching our own range of Organic AND Fair-Trade chocolate spreads. 400g jars of conscience-free indulgence! Firstly; a vegan society accredited, dark chocolate spread, silky smooth and luxuriant. Then; organic hazelnut and fairtrade chocolate spread, the classic combination, rich and nutritiously creamy. Finally; organic fairtrade duo swirl chocolate spread. Combining the guilty pleasures of the light and the dark! The chocolate trade, as has recently been highlighted, is one of the worst in terms of human rights issues. Essential is proud to offer an alternative to this dire situation, offering a certified organic and fair trade product; organic to protect the environment, Fairtrade to protect the people. Guaranteed GM free and with no unseemly additives. Just as you’d expect from Essential – "food you can trust".

!!!Free stock offer!!! Order a case of hazelnut & chocolate and a case of dark chocolate and ask for a case of duo swirl absolutely free!! Offer valid during may & june 2008 only.

dark chocolate spread Duo Swirl Hazelnut Chocolate Spread Natural and Organic Award

Essential Compostable Carrier Bags - NEW!!

From ecosac.net:

“Our biodegradable-compostable bags are manufactured from Mater-Bi™ guaranteed GM-free cornstarch, which breaks down in a composting environment by natural means into simple elements, carbon, oxygen and hydrogen. This ensures that 90% of the product has composted down within a 12 week period.”

There are three terms in use when referring to packaging that breaks down Degradable, Biodegradable and Compostable; of the three, Compostable is the preferred one: Degradable products break down in time scales from 18 months to 4 years, sometimes with the help of additives. Biodegradable products don’t have a period range in which they must break down - they are simply assimilated “over time” by natural means. Compostable products are subject to European standards that ensure that, under commercial composting conditions, 90% of the product has composted down within a 12 week period. Not only this, the resulting humus must be of good quality - governed by a separate BSI standard - and, crucially, usable: some degradable polymers result in poor quality compost and sometimes even prevent the compost from working. Not so Essential Compostable Carrier Bags! Made from guaranteed non-GM corn starch, these bags conform to the standards required for compostable packaging. Mater-Bi™ provides a material that is strong, water and odour proof. The bags are printed front and back with the designs shown above right. Sold in packs of a thousand, the price per bag works out at a mere 15p each:

Essential Compostable Bag Essential Compostable Bag

Organic Tinned Pulses Catering Sizes (1x2.6kg): Chickpeas, Red Kidney Beans, Mixed Beans and Cannellini Beans (6x400g)- New!!

We are delighted to make available organic Chickpeas and Red Kidney Beans in big 2.6kg tins, which are over 55% more economic than the existing 400g tins weight for weight. Also brand new to essential's organic tinned pulses, Cannellini beans which like the others contain no added sugar or salt.
Catering Chickpeas red kidney beans mixed beans

Organic Vegan Pesto- NEW!!

Essential's organic vegan pesto is a classic recipe and one which is true to the Italian tradition of keeping things simple and allowing the qualities of the individual ingredients to shine. Consisting of just four elements- extra virgin olive oil, fresh basil, pinenuts and sea salt- Essential Pesto is a concentrated pesto and should be thinned with olive oil prior to use. The perfect complement to Essential organic pasta and organic tomato ranges (see below).
Organic pesto

Essential Fairtrade Herbs and Spices Retail Pack- NEW!!

Here at Essential we are constantly adding to our range of delicious fairtrade goods. Our new organic and Fairtrade herbs and spices in retail packs are the perfect complement to our organic Fairtrade retail packs of rice, quinoa, nuts and seeds. A spice rack is also available upon request to display the range to your customers.
Fairtrade Pepper
Fairtrade Turmeric
Fairtrade Peppercorns
Fairtrade Cinnamon
Fairtrade Cloves
Fairtrade Ginger

Essential Recycled Kitchen Towels- New!!

We are proud to present Essential Recycled Kitchen Roll. Made from 100% recycled, unbleached material, this 2-Ply Kitchen Roll is packed in fully compostable packaging, and is very competitively priced.
Kitchen Towel


Essential Fairtrade Light and Dark Tahini

Made from organic Fairtrade sesame seed sourced from Del Campo co-operative in Nicaragua. Del Campo is a farmer-owned co-operative which enables small scale farmers to gain economic return on high quality sesame seeds in a guaranteed, supportive market place. Del Campo represents 3500 farmers on Nicaragua's pacific coast, and the fairtrade guarantee enables Co-op members to bring investment opportunities, training courses, a health clinic and better nutrition to their local community.


Essential Organic Coconut Milk - 6 x 400ml

Our new addition from our farmers in Sri Lanka is made from pressed fresh coconut kernel. The coconuts used to create this luxurious milk are organically grown in Sri Lanka, where traditionally every part of the coconut tree is used, giving local farmers a sustainable income. The milk is freshly pressed and packaged in the same factory as our organic tinned fruit, ensuring that the local economy benefits from all aspects of the production process.

Many people - in particular children - suffer from lactose intolerance. This milk can act as a great replacement for milk and soya products since it is free of additives or animal-derived proteins.


Essential Organic Soups

 

We are delighted with this product range, not least because these are genuinely high quality soups with a home made feel and taste, they come in big 720ml jars enough for two greedy people!
Lentil & Pumpkin Soup V G , Lentil Soup V G , Mushroom Soup G , Vegetable & Tomato Soup G ,
Pea Soup V G , Tomato Soup G

There are six soups to choose from, all no added sugar, virtually fat free, gluten free and organic. Half the soups are luxuriantly bolstered using butter, however the Pea, Lentil and Lentil & Pumpkin are all vegan.
Lentil & Pumpkin Soup
Mushroom Soup
Vegetable & Tomato Soup
Lentil Soup
Pea Soup
tomato Soup

Click on the images above to enlarge and view the label.



Essential Organic Pasta

       
The new pasta range includes wholewheat and white pasta versions of classic pasta shapes, plus a couple of less well-know varieties: Tortiglioni, somewhat larger than penne and a little like twisted hollow macaroni, and Lumachi, a big snail shell shape.
Fusilli White
Fusilli Whole Wheat
Tortiglioni
Penne White
Penne Whole Wheat
Lumache
Spaghetti White
Spaghetti Whole Wheat

Essential Organic Clear Broth and Mediterranean Bouillon

Both are vegan and have yeast extract as their greatest ingredient. The Clear Broth, which can be a hot drink or a base for soups and stews contains a delicious combination of dried vegetables and spices. Mediterranean Boullion paste uses lovage, oregano and basil as a fragrant base of Southern European herbs.
Org Meditteranean Broth
Org Clear Veg Broth
Organic Yeast Extract
Yeast Extract

Essential Organic and Non Organic Yeast Extract

Essential yeast extract is made using an autolytic process using natural enzymes in the yeast itself. Other brands produce yeast extract by hydrolisation (using hydrochloric acid to crack the yeast cells) then sodium hydroxide afterwards for neutralisation, resulting in increased sodium chloride concentration. For this reason our yeast extract is low in salt (sodium) when compared to most yeast extracts. It is also gluten free – being processed from roots not grain – a natural product produced with minimal processing aids. We introduced the organic version to the UK – try it – your tastebuds will love you!


Essential Organic Italian Tomato Range

Organic Tomatoes Organic Passata Organic Tom Puree


Essential - Organic and biodynamic herbal teas range

Organic and Biodynamic (demeter) herbal teas - all grown, processed and packed for us on a single organic farm in Egypt.
The farm benefits from a Kindergarten and school for the workers children. (Here at Essential we are, we believe, unique in being certified both Organic and Biodynamic!)
Click HERE to find out more about the origins of our herbal tea range
Organic Camomile Tea
Organic Hibiscus Tea
Organic Peppermint Tea
Organic Spearmint Tea
Organic Fennel Tea
Organic Camo/Spearmint Tea


Essential Organic Ground Coffee

100% Guatemalan Arabica coffee - Medium Roast
The Organic Guatemalan, Medium Roast is a delicate coffee with a pleasant acidity, good body & distinctive fruitiness. Fairly traded gourmet coffee produced by indigenous Guatemalan Co-operatives
Guatemalan Coffee - medium roast - 6 x 227g
100% Mexican Arabica- also Medium Roast.
Fine, high grown Mexican arabica with good acidity and a sweet flavour.Mexican Coffee
medium roast - 6 x 227g
Click here to find out more about the coffee producers.
Mexican Coffee
Guatemalen Coffee

Essential Organic Flapjacks

Our delicious flapjacks are produced locally and are made using our own fine ingredients. The range includes eight delicious flavours (sold separately) and two mixed cases; the mixed vegan range and the mixed luxury range, for those who prefer more of a selection.
Almond Fruit Flapjack
Date&Apricot Flapjack
Choc&Brazil Flapjack Vinefruit Flapjack
Choc&Orange Flapjack Brazil and Banana Flapjack Mango Pineapple Flapjack Choc & Butter Flapjack


Essential Organic Fruit >>Convenience Foods<<

All are tinned in organic juice and contain no nasty additives or preservatives. All packed in trays of 6 x 400g and 410g. GMO free and no added sugar or salt.
Organic Papaya Organic Pineapple Tropical Fruits Organic Prunes
Organic Peaches Organic Grapefruit Organic Mango

Essential Organic Pulses >>Convenience Foods<< New Cannellini!!!

A delicious and wholesome range of organic pulses with the convenience of a ring pull tin. Fast food with a difference.

Blackeye Beans Butter Beans Chick Peas Haricot Beans
Mixed Beans Puy Lentils Red Kidney Green Soya Beans new cannellini

Essential Organic Fruits in Glass Jars>>Convenience Foods<<Demeter Logo

Our fine quality organic fruits in glass jars come in packs of 6 jars of varied sizes. All the glass jars have been produced in a factory that receives all it's energy from sustainable sources.The Apple Puree is Certified by Demeter, the mark that is used by bio dynamic producers in the UK to guarantee to consumers that internationally recognised biodynamic production standards are being followed.

Apricots in Syrup Cherries in Syrup Plums in syrup Blackberries in syrup Raspberries
Cranberries in syrup Forest Fruits Strawberries Apple Puree

Essential Organic Vegetables in Glass Jars>>Convenience Foods<<Demeter Logo

Organic vegetables in Demeter glass jars come in packs of 6 jars of varied sizes. The entire range is organic and certified by Demeter to meet biodynamic standards. Please click here to discover more about biodynamic farming and certification. Possibly the first ever biodynamic and organic convenience foods in the UK.

Beetroot Sliced - 6 x 340g, Baked Beans in Tomato Sauce - 6 x 340g, Baby Carrots - 6 x 340g, Gherkins - Sweet & Sour 6 x 680g and 6 x 350g, Gherkins Sour 6 x 680g, French Beans - 6 x 340g, Green Peas & Baby Carrots - 6 x 340g, Green Peas 6 x 340g, Sauerkraut 6 x 700g and 6 x 350g, Silverskin Onions 6 x 340g, Spinach - 6 x 340g, Sweetcorn - 6 x 330g

Org Sliced Beetroot Org Baked Beans Org Green Peas & Carrots Sweetcorn Org Gherkins


Japanese Soya Sauces

Essential Organic Traditional Japanese Soya Sauces

Shoyu - Organic
6 x 250ml
C526P
6 x 500ml
C527P
2 Ltr
C528P

 

Tamari - Organic
6 x 250ml
C523P
6 x 500ml
C524P
2 Ltr
C525P
Non-organic versions also available in 250ml, 500ml & 5 litre sizes


Essential Organic Cold Pressed Culinary Oils

Sesame, Olive, Sunflower and Safflower oils in 500ml size. The extra virgin organic olive oil and the sunflower oil are also available in a 5 litre size. These oils are absolutely delicious but still the most reasonably priced organic culinary oils we can lay our hands on.
Sesame Oil Org Olive Oil Sunflower Oil Safflower Oil


Essential Luxury Soft Toilet Tissue - 100% Recycled

An Ethical Consumer Magazine "best buy" - Essential 100% recycled toilet paper. Soft, strong and very very ethical . Packed in 10 x 4 rolls (pictured) or 1 pack of 36 rolls.

Essential Recycled Kitchen Towels- New!!

We are proud to present Essential Recycled Kitchen Roll. Made from 100% recycled, unbleached material, this 2-Ply Kitchen Roll is packed in fully compostable packaging, and is very competitively priced.
Recycled Toilet Tissue Kitchen Towel


Organic Herbs and Spices

Our range of 40 herbs and spices (available in retail packs of approximately 12g-40g).Also available is a free of charge spice rack for display purposes.
Cumin Seed Org Fennel Seed Org Green Cardamon Org Paprika Org Star Anise Organic Thyme

Organic and Commercial Commodities

A full range of Breakfast Cereals, Bulk chocolate, Flour, Fruit, Grains, Herbs & Spices, Nuts, Pulses, Rice, Salt, Savoury snacks, Seeds, Sugar, Superfoods, Sweet snack mixes and TVP in sizes ranging from 125g, 250g, 500g, 1kg, 2kg, 5 kg, 10kg, 25kg. Please see our >Catalogue< section of this website for more details