“Help – I can’t find flour or yeast anywhere! Do you know where I could get some?”
This has been the most common question I’ve received since even before lockdown began.
Early in March, shelves were emptied of flour and yeast and it seems that supplies haven’t yet recovered. This is because the majority of flour produced in the UK is destined for industry and catering, packaged in large volumes. Only around 4% of flour produced is packed into small bags for home use. Producers are now working hard to keep up with demand for these smaller bags.
If you’re searching for flour online, read on for some suggestions of online sources of both ingredients. Please note these suggestions are for UK-based producers and suppliers.
As always, please abide by the Government’s social distancing and travel from home rules when sourcing ingredients.
PLEASE NOTE: I’ve done my best to include stockists that are still sending out flour. Circumstances for all stockists may change at any time, or there may be delays in packing and sending out orders – so this list is no guarantee of supply, just my suggestions of where to look.
Online stockists
Doves Farm
Every week day morning, Doves Farm online release a limited number of baking boxes for sale, whilst stocks last. Each box contains a range of bread and baking flours plus yeast. You don’t get to select what’s in the box, but you should get a range of flours.
Find out more: https://www.dovesfarm.co.uk/products/organic-flour-box
Matthews Cotswold Flour
The online shop opens each week day at 10am whilst stocks are available. Not all flours are available and there is a minimum order value of five bags per customer. So you may want to share (from a distance) with friends and family. Orders will take 10 – 14 days for delivery.
Find out more: https://www.fwpmatthews.co.uk/store/
Shipton Mill
The mill release a limited number of order slots throughout each week day. You need to check back to their website regularly and can only email to request a delivery when slots are made available. Shipton have limited amounts of small bags (1kg) of flour but also have 16kg and 25kg sacks of flour available.
Find out more: https://www.shipton-mill.com/
Marriages Flour
Only selling 16kg bags of flour at this time. You’ll need to check each day to see what is available. Please ensure you’ve read the website information on how Marriages will take orders before placing an order or asking for further information.
Find out more: https://flour.co.uk/pages/qas-during-covid-19
Squires Kitchen
Selling a small range of 4kg and 16kg bags of flour whilst stocks last. Please note delivery times may vary as staff work to keep up with orders.
Find out more: https://www.squires-shop.com/catalogue/bread-making-and-flour
Finding flour locally
As well as looking online, you may also find flour and yeast in smaller, local shops, especially independents. It may also be worth asking your local bakery but please be aware that they may be under pressure to source flour to keep up with their own baking supply; if so, they’ll be unable to supply ingredients.
The national (UK and Ireland) body representing flour millers, NABIM, has put together a directory of local outlets selling larger bags (4kg plus) to local consumers. You can search it by postcode.
Find out more: http://www.nabim.org.uk/consumers/where-can-i-buy-flour/
Sourcing yeast
Yeast seems to be in even shorter supply than flour at the moment. If you can’t get hold of it, why not start your own sourdough starter? You can get my step-by-step guide to making a successful sourdough starter at the following link.
Find out more here: https://www.theepsombakehouse.co.uk/sourdough-starter-guide-sign-up/
Alternatively, you could try baking some delicious breads that don’t need yeast for now. My recent live bakealongs over on my Facebook page have included recipes for a cheesy soda bread, and a quick but very tasty two-ingredient flatbread. You can catch up with either of these and bake along with me step-by-step at the following link:
Soda bread: https://www.facebook.com/135769693283993/videos/228489875180187/
Flatbreads: https://www.facebook.com/135769693283993/videos/252607072414921/
I hope you are able to source your own flour and yeast soon, and that this finds you safe and well.
If you have other suggestions for online sources of flour or yeast that you’d like to share, please do let me know on info@theepsombakehouse.co.uk and I will try to update this list when I can!
Want to learn more about baking great bread at home?
If you do have flour and would like to learn more about baking great bread at home, do check out some of my other resources. There are plenty of bread making tips and recipes on my blog. As mentioned above, you can also join my free live bakealongs on Facebook each Saturday morning at 10am.
You can also join one of my new, online bread making classes. Learn step-by-step how to bake a range of breads from ciabatta to brioche, baguettes to cinnamon buns and more. You can find out more here: https://www.theepsombakehouse.co.uk/learn-to-bake-bread/