How to get groceries delivered by small Ottawa-area companies during COVID-19

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Hands up if, like me, you’ve spent serious time in the last few months creating a delivery order with a large chain grocery store—only to discover when you try to check out that no delivery times are available. Yeah, I thought so.

I can’t fault the big chains; they’re dealing with incredible, unforeseen demand right now, and they’re doing their best.

However, there are all sorts of alternatives if you’d like to order products from local bakers, farmers, chocolatiers and more.

Here are just a few of the many companies in Ottawa, Gatineau, Eastern Ontario and West Quebec that will bring everything from bread to beer right to your door. (Each company’s minimum order, delivery times, delivery range and other policies vary, so please check each linked website for full details.)

In many cases, you can also shop in store or arrange for contactless pickup. Again, check each company’s website for the latest information.

Updated October 14, 2020.

A little bit of everything

• The Vendors Project: This website lets you place one order to get items from a number of vendors who normally sell their products at the Ottawa Farmers Market at Lansdowne Park. Goodies include sourdough loaves from Pure Bread, strawberries from Just Farms and sheep feta from Fromagerie Les Folies Bergères.
• Hidden Trails Farm: Reader (and local blogger) Vanessa Chiasson recommends this website, which sells meat, poultry, eggs, coffee, produce, baking mixes and lots more—even locally smoked sturgeon and catfish. The farm delivers to Ottawa and Clarence-Rockland.
• Jacobsons: The upscale New Edinburgh food shop will deliver just about anything from its range of products, which includes cheese, chocolates, sauces, frozen soups and entrees, marinades and sauces, cookies, and more.
• Goodfood2u: Based in Ottawa, this company delivers organic fruit and vegetables, meat, herbs and spices, bread, coffee, household products and more—many sourced within 100 miles of Ottawa. You can also order complete meal boxes, with recipes and all the ingredients you need to make them.
• The BUCHIPOP Burrow Shop: This is a one-stop shop for items from a wide range of local producers, such as Upper Canada Creamery cheese, craft beer salsa by Mi Cocina, Against the Grain flours, Fieldless Farms greens, challah bread from Nat’s Bread Company, produce from Orleans Fresh Fruits, and much, much more.
• Bytown Catering: The extensive home-delivery selection here includes lots of staples, such as rice, pasta, orange juice, cereal, fruit, vegetables, meat, butter, eggs and milk. You’ll also find frozen entrees, Kettleman’s bagels, sandwiches and some surprising treats, including Kit Kats, Pringles, gourmet cheese, charcuterie, butter tart squares and—for Ontario addresses only—beer, wine and liquor.
• Kaladar Market: Located near Bank Street and Heron Road, this company delivers produce, meat, dairy products, eggs and other grocery staples.
• Cedars & Co. Food Market: This well-stocked independent grocer will deliver just about anything from its store to addresses in Old Ottawa South or Alta Vista. Call or email the store for details.
• Vittle: This meal-prep company—whose rotating menus feature a good range of meat, meatless, gluten-free, halal and other options—is also offering grocery delivery.
• Planet Coffee: The coffee chain has set up a new website, Planet Groceries, to sell coffee (naturally) but also baking supplies, baked goods, fruit, vegetables, meat, condiments and more—even scones.
• Saslove’s Meat Market: This Byward Market shop is offering a phone-based food delivery service. Check the website for product details and phone number.

• Ottawa Organics: This company delivers all sorts of organic food products, including produce, dairy products, baked goods, juices, condiments, rice, pasta, flour and much more.
• Terra 20: This Ottawa-based retailer sells a wide range of eco-friendly, ethically sourced products. As well as groceries (pasta, rice, honey, snacks, sauces, baby food, coffee, tea and more), you can buy health and beauty products, vitamins, toys and other items.
• Thyme & Again: The popular caterer and take-home food store offers soups, salads, frozen meat pies and casseroles, dips, cookies, cakes and more. You can even order wine and kitchen accessories (aprons, tote bags and other items).
• NU Grocery: This zero-waste Ottawa grocer delivers a range of food, beauty and household products, including baking ingredients, nuts, dried pasta, oils, vinegars, dairy products, eggs, produce, coffee, eco-friendly cleaning products, bamboo toothbrushes, natural deodorants and beeswax food wrap.
• Dutch Groceries and Giftware: This Clyde Avenue store is the go-to place for stroopwafel, Gouda cheese, chocolate sprinkles and other Dutch delights. Delivery is available via Canada Post or Purolator; email the store for details.
• Bytown Box: This one’s a little different: It’s a pre-packed box full of products made in and around Ottawa, along with vouchers from some of the featured companies. You’ll get fleur de sel chocolate from Hummingbird Chocolate, two kinds of Papa Jack popcorn, Mrs. McGarrigle’s Canadian maple mustard and more—even some Dairy Distillery hand sanitizer.
• FarmScore: This online shop is associated with the Ottawa Farmers’ Market.
• Mercato: This online venture from the folks behind EVOO Greek Kitchen and Mati restaurants features all sorts of premium and hard-to-find grocery items, including wagyu steaks, charcuterie platters, halloumi cheese, marinated calamari and Veuve Clicquot champagne, along with basics such as milk, flour and butter.
• My Local Markets: This website sells a wide range of food items from Eastern Ontario producers, such as vanilla-infused honey from Bee Savvy, Kricklewood Farm garlic aioli, Maverick’s doughnuts and all sorts of fresh produce. You’ll also find pet food, jewellery, cleaning supplies and more. (I laughed out loud when I saw the So Over 2020 soy candles, “a fed-up blend of too much baking and social distancing.”) Delivery available to a wide area between Ottawa and Brockville; curbside pickup is also available in Nepean and Kemptville.

Baking products, oils and essential cooking ingredients

• Gees Bees Honey Company: Order buckwheat, wildflower, blueberry and raspberry honey, as well as honeycomb, from these beekeepers located just north of Ottawa’s Honey Gables neighbourhood (appropriately enough!).
• Ilias-n-Sons: Shop for organic Greek olive oil from this local supplier, as well as balsamic vinegar, garlic, herbs and olives.
• The Unrefined Olive: You can buy extra virgin olive oils from around the world and aged balsamic vinegars here. The shop has locations in the Glebe and Kanata, and offers both delivery and curbside pickup.
• Bee Savvy Honey: This Arnprior shop sells all sorts of plain and infused honeys (espresso or chai masala, anyone?), along with beeswax skin care products, pet products and more.

Mostly meat

• Bearbrook Game Meats: Another stalwart from the Ottawa Farmers Market, this east-end farm delivers a wide range of meats and other products, including beef, chicken, eggs, lamb, goat, venison, sausages, cold cuts, soups, jams, honey and cheese. You can even buy bones for your dog.
• Ottawa Valley Meats: This Ottawa-based company sources its beef, chicken and pork from local family farms.
• Mariposa Farm: This Plantagenet farm is perhaps best known for its duck products but sells and delivers a wide range of foodstuffs, including chicken, turkey, pork chops, eggs, rillettes, terrines, pheasant, rabbit and quail.
• Farm 2 Fork: You can order naturally raised meats and sustainably sourced seafood—including beef, pork, chicken, salmon, shrimp and scallops—from this local company.
• Wellington Butchery: This Westboro shop sells lamb, chicken, pork, wagyu and Angus beef, fish, deli meats, artisanal sausages, meat pies, soups and salads, entrées and more.
• Saslove’s Meat Market: All sorts of meats are available for delivery, including lamb, bison, venison, pork, elk, rabbit, duck, chicken, partridge, quail and more cuts of beef than you can shake a cleaver at.
• Grazing Days Farm: Grass-fed beef, pastured pork and pastured chicken—all raised without artificial growth hormones—are on the menu here.
• Corad Farms: As well as all sorts of Limousin beef, you can buy honey, chocolate and reusable tote bags from this Pakenham farm.
• W. Leitch Organics: This family-owned farm in Martintown raises York Landrace sows and Duroc boars in pastures and woodlands, without meat-based proteins, growth hormones, synthetics or artificial additives. Delivery is available to homes in Martintown, Williamstown, Lancaster, Maxville, Apple Hill and Cornwall.

Snacks, desserts and other treats

• Hummingbird Chocolate: Almonte-based Hummingbird is shipping its award-winning chocolate bars, drinking chocolate and more.
• Fulton’s Pancake House and Sugar Bush: You can order all things maple—syrup, candies, tea, sugar and even body lotion—from this Pakenham sugar bush for delivery.
• YOW Popcorn Company: If flavoured popcorn is just what you need for your next Netflix binge, this Ottawa company delivers. (Reader Sarah Sorenson recommends the truffle parmesan and sweet cinnamon flavours!)
• Voilà Gluten-Free Bakeree: This Kanata-based bakery delivers bread, pies, cookies and other baked goods, as well as pasta and gluten-free oats, throughout the Ottawa region. Check their Facebook page for ordering details.
• Papa Jack Popcorn: As well as popcorn in a dizzying array of flavours—including Jamaican jerk, bacon, caramel and ketchup—this family-owned company sells St. Hubert-branded products, Cheesecake Factory cheesecakes and more.
• Fruit Couture: I was going to list this option under “produce,” but it feels more festive than that! This company delivers sweet treats and gifts, including fruit bouquets, chocolate-covered strawberries and macarons.
• Strawberry Blonde Bakery: As well as a huge range of baked goods for people with allergies or restricted diets, this bakery (with locations in Westboro and Kanata) is selling coffee, pizza and pie dough, and bake-your-own scones and savoury pies.

Milk, cheese, ice cream and other dairy

• Your Milk Man: This company delivers products such as milk (including lactose-free products) to most of Ottawa—from Orleans to Constance Bay to Manotick—and to Arnprior.
• The Merry Dairy: You can order ice cream pints—including some clever flavours, such as salted caramel or vegan mint chip—as well as ice cream sandwiches, ice cream cakes and other treats. Pickup and delivery available.

Coffee, tea and other non-alcoholic beverages

• North Brew Coffee: Recommended by reader Jesse Ruppell, this Ottawa-based mail-order company sells organic, fair-trade coffee. A portion of the revenues go to the Ottawa Mission.
• Bean Around Town: You can buy beans or ground coffee from four local roasters—Snark, Bridgehead, Francesco’s and Bluebarn—one shipment at a time, or you can sign up for a regular coffee subscription.
• Equator Coffee: The Almonte-based coffee roaster will mail you your favourite java beans.
• Little Victories Coffee Roasters: You can shop for coffee, chai, coffee-making equipment and milk alternatives, such as almond milk and oat milk.
• Happy Goat Coffee Company: The Ottawa-based coffee company sells coffee, coffee-making supplies, maple syrup, honey, non-dairy creamers and gift items for delivery.
• Bridgehead Coffee: As well as coffee, tea and related accessories, you can buy granola, mugs, Dominion City seltzer and more.
• Figaro Coffee House: This cafe on Industrial Avenue delivers coffee beans, loose-leaf teas and all sorts of baked goods, including cookies and croissants.
• Artizen Kombucha: The Perth-based company delivers its fermented beverages—in flavours such as lemon ginger, blueberry grape and tart cherry—to Perth, Ottawa and surrounding areas. The website also has a section called Bubbles & Bites featuring products from other local makers, including cookies, chocolate, jam and other foods.

Produce and more

• Ottawa Farm Fresh: Reader Stephanie Rainey recommends this site, where you can order lots of different organically grown veggies from a farm in the NCC Greenbelt.
• Produce Brothers: Reader Shauna Guilfoyle gave this company on Industrial Avenue a shoutout. As well as a wide range of produce and herbs, you can also buy milk, cheese, butter, tofu and honey. Delivery throughout the urban area of Ottawa and curbside pickup at the firm’s warehouse are both available. Next-day delivery if you order by 3pm.
• Bryson Farms: This organic farm in Shawville delivers all sorts of fresh produce, including broccoli, kale, lettuce, peppers and potatoes. You can also order cakes, pickles, soups, frozen entrées, frozen veggies and more.
• Capital City Harvest: This delivery company focuses on locally grown produce, but also delivers other foods and drinks, including vinegar, flour, Halsall’s honey and Original Local Lager.
• The Produce Aisle: This company delivers a wide range of fruits and vegetables, from apples to zucchini. (The trivia nerd in me loves that tomatoes are properly classified in the fruit section, in case you’re looking for them.)

Beer, wine, cider and liquor

Feeling thirsty? A number of Eastern Ontario breweries and brew pubs are offering local delivery, including the following.

• Vimy Brewing Company
• Overflow Brewing Company
• Dominion City Brewing Company
• Big Rig Brewery
• Bicycle Craft Brewery
• Stray Dog Brewing Company
• Brew Revolution
• Kichesippi Beer Company
• Flora Hall Brewing
• Spark Beer
• Broadhead Brewing Company
• Evergreen Craft Ales
• Beau’s All-Natural Brewing Company
• Square Timber Brewing Company
• Calabogie Brewing
• Cassel Brewery
• Perth Brewery
• Stalwart Brewing Company
• Gan Brewing Company

And here are two searchable sites of breweries across Ontario that are offering home delivery: the Ontario Beer Delivery Index and Beerfinder.ca.

If cider is more your style, Farmgate Cider in Arnprior makes and delivers a wide range of ciders, made with apples raised without the use of chemicals.

Looking for wine? Ottawa’s Savvy Company offers home delivery of Canadian wines. Bytown Catering (listed under “A little bit of everything” above) is delivering wine, beer and liquor, as well as groceries. Toronto-based Wine Online delivers wines from around the world to Ontario addresses (outside the GTA, delivery is by UPS or Canada Post). And under a COVID-19-related amendment to the Liquor Licence Act, all licensed bars and restaurants in Ontario can now sell alcohol with food takeout and delivery orders, until the end of 2020.

Prepared meals

Don’t feel like cooking? Many, many restaurants are offering delivery, and I’m hoping to do another post focusing on them. In the meantime, catering companies that deliver include Red Apron (which delivers from Tuesday through Thursday) and Bytown Catering (mentioned above under “A little bit of everything”). Reader Jan recommends My Catering Group in Kanata, where entrées have included elegant dishes such as osso bucco and stuffed eggplant.

Beauty, health, household and miscellaneous

OK, I know these aren’t groceries per se, but they’re the sorts of things you might normally pick up at the grocery store—so here you go.

• The Wash Shop: This local company’s plant-powered vegan soaps are a step above the usual soaps you’ll find on the shelves of big chain stores. They’re hand-crafted and free of synthetic fragrances, and the price includes delivery within Ottawa.
• Saaboon: This Gladstone Avenue store is now shipping its handmade, vegan, low-waste soaps and skin care products.

I’m going to keep expanding this post as time goes on, so if I’ve forgotten your favourite food companies in this list, please let me know in the comments. Thanks!

P.S.: If you enjoy learning about Eastern Ontario and West Quebec, please subscribe to my free weekly e-newsletter!