Deliciously Ella loves Vegware eco packaging
Deliciously Ella (otherwise known as Ella Mills) is the powerhouse behind three bestselling cookbooks, a world-famous food blog and an Instagram feed that would put your lunch to shame.
On a mission to create a home for her healthy eating ethos, Ella opened the Mae Deli in December 2015 with her husband, Matthew. The Deli is a cosy clean-eating haven, specialising in the tasty plant-based food Ella is famous for.
The Mae Deli has been using Vegware’s eco packaging since it opened. We caught up with Ella to find out why she decided to use Vegware and what exciting plans the Deli has in store.
Why was choosing compostable packaging for the Mae Deli important to you?
The Mae Deli by Deliciously Ella was started by my husband Matthew and I and our aim is to create delicious natural food, but always in a socially and environmentally responsible way. We focus on building a company that our team members and customers can be proud of. This means using only compostable and recyclable packaging, paying the London living wage and above to all of our team members, and bringing total transparency to everything we do; which includes sharing the recipes to our products.
What kind of responses have you had from your customers regarding the packaging?
Our customers are so pleased when we tell them that we use Vegware’s compostable packaging! We often get so many complaints saying that it’s a shame that we use so much plastic, so when we are able to tell our customers that is actually made out of plant based materials they are so happy. It’s such a great concept and we love that we are able to spread the word and educate people who don’t know what Vegware is.
Have you noticed any difference between plastic packaging and Vegware in terms of quality or how easy it is to use?
Completely! You may think that since it’s made from plant based material that the quality would be compromised, but it’s actually the total opposite. We find that the Vegware packaging is much more sturdy, durable, and you have perfected the art of sealing the material tightly – which is so important. No one wants salad dressing running through their bag!
What seasonal food trends are you excited about for autumn?
I love eating seasonally and find that come autumn I start craving heartier warming dishes. We have two new dishes at the deli that I am so excited to be launching soon. One is a five-bean chilli with warming hints of cumin and the other is a black rice dish with amazing autumn veggies like butternut squash and Brussel sprouts. And while I admittedly eat sweet potato all year around autumn gives the perfect excuse for feeling less guilty by doing so.
Our menu is based around vibrant and delicious salads so having packaging that protects and holds the dishes intact is so important and your product does this so well!
Deliciously Ella recently launched an energy ball line, a skincare range with Neal’s Yard and a new smoothie recipe book. Find out more at deliciouslyella.com.