Why a Veg Box Isn’t for Everyone (And Why That’s Absolutely Fine)

Plentiful’s veg box story started at a time when everyone suddenly needed food arriving at the doorstep: the pandemic. We had thousands of pounds worth of fruit and veg delivery turning up the next morning. This idea had to work. And somehow, it did.
We loaded Corsas with cabbages, apples, and carrots, took phone orders in the most chaotic way imaginable, and drove our veg boxes to Bury, Ramsbottom, Bacup and beyond. Strategy? Social media? Barely. Just us & our community, hungry for good food.
Fast forward five years: we now have a proper website that does the clever bits automatically, a brilliant delivery team, and a dedicated van. We’ve grown up. But here’s the big question I found myself asking after all this time:

Is a veg box really for everyone? And if not, is that a bad thing?

Who loves a veg box?

Veg boxes tend to suit two types of people: the planners and the wingers.

The Planner

Organised, intentional, and maybe even a bit smug (in the best way, and rightfully so). They live according to their values: local, organic, quality veg. They swap items online, add extras, and often have recipes in mind. They see the box as a time-saver, not a curveball. They’re the customers all veg box website owners imagine.

The Winger

The epitome of: “Life’s too short to meal plan.” They don’t have time to plan and shop, but they do want their fridge full of good food. They’ll sometimes flick through the weekly recipe sheet in the box, cook what takes their fancy, and leave the rest for inspiration later. They love the surprises. There’s no stress, the box’ll get eaten.

Real customers tell us:
“It’s teaching me what’s in season — I’m trying new things all the time.”
“Having a delivery forces me to eat healthily — I feel so good seeing all the produce, and I don’t want to waste it.”
“Every Thursday is like Christmas. The unboxing has me squealing some weeks!”

But what if you’re in between? Or neither?

Maybe you’re not a planner. Maybe you’re not a winger.

Maybe you want to be in charge.

Or on the flip side: you know that even with email reminders, you’ll forget to check your basket to make your weekly swaps.

That’s where “create your own” comes in.

We slowly watched this emerge: one or two custom orders a week. Then ten. Then twenty. Now, many people use Plentiful as their online organic grocer. Build your own order, skip the box, get exactly what you need. Pick your own organic produce, pantry staples, and wholefoods — no box commitment required.

And honestly? I’m firmly in that camp myself.

And that’s because I have great intentions, but being human is sometimes hard. Unexpected things happen.

Some weeks I’m ultra-organised with Instagram recipes saved, screenshotted and macro-counted. I know exactly the ingredients I need. It’s giving: “I can’t wait to make my maple tahini broccoli steaks with a beetroot and fennel dip.”

Other weeks it’s “Oh shit, it’s 9pm and I’ve just sat down. Granola for tea again and no time to go shopping this week. I need quick meal wins I can throw into a pan and need no recipe for.”

That’s the joy of create-your-own: no rules, no guilt, no wasted veg. You don't even have to order fruit and veg. Just the food you want, when you want it.

You don’t have to be consistent. You don’t have to commit. You just have options.

FUN FACT: As of October 2025 we now have the search function, so you can be as exact as you like!

The Bigger Picture

At the end of the day, most of us want the same things: to eat well, to know our food is grown fairly, and to make sure British farming doesn’t collapse under supermarket pressure. And let’s not forget — our wildlife, soil, and countryside depend on the choices we make at the checkout.
Backing local businesses that champion organic farming isn’t just “nice to do” — it’s powerful. It keeps money in our communities, it keeps farmers farming, and it keeps the land alive.

Supermarkets account for 96% of all UK grocery sales — but nearly half of British farmers fear they’ll go bust in the next five years.

According to the Soil Association, almost 9 in 10 people say they’d buy more locally sourced food if it were easier to access.

That’s the gap we’re here to close. Whether you want the surprise of a seasonal box or the freedom of building your own basket, Plentiful makes it simple and doable to live what you believe in.

So… which camp are you in?

Planner, winger, or somewhere in between? There’s no wrong answer.

Because at the end of the day, whether it’s a box of seasonal surprises or a carefully chosen online basket, you’re still choosing organic, still eating better, and still supporting local growers.

And that’s the real win.

Tell us which camp you’re in — or better yet, try both! Browse our veg boxes, or build your own online grocery order today.