PHOTO: VISIT PEAK DISTRICT AND DERBYSHIRE
Ralph and Lauren Wilson run Peak District Deli.
Surviving &
THRIVING Local companies reveal how they adjusted to the challenges posed by the coronavirus – and were able to offer a vital response to their communities.
Peak District Deli
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PHOTO: VISIT PEAK DISTRICT AND DERBYSHIRE
he online deli, run by Ralph and Lauren Wilson, promotes high quality, locally produced food and drinks. It also caters pop up suppers, weddings and private dining events and supplies hampers to holiday cottages. When Covid-19 caused an instant and dramatic swing to its business, Peak District Deli focused on its food delivery service across the Peak District and beyond. Owner Ralph Wilson explains: “With over 100 Pop-Up Supper Club tickets sold and multiple weddings booked for this year – alongside private dining events - the sudden and complete loss of revenue due to the pandemic was shattering. “The other side of our business provides an online shopping and delivery service
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www.peakdistrict.gov.uk
selling exclusively Peak District produce. As the supermarkets struggled in the opening weeks of lockdown, our services quickly became diverted to reaching as many people as possible with food and drinks from the area.” Peak District Deli travelled across all areas of the national park, visiting hundreds of customers and increasing its orders with producers – benefitting local communities and the local economy. Ralph adds: “Many of our regular customers were in isolation during an incredibly difficult time. For some, we were the only people they saw or spoke to. For the producers, to be able to absorb the incredible demand placed on them was unprecedented. There has been a huge collective effort to meet everyone’s needs and take care of those in our communities who needed it most.”
