We’re always happy to hear from any of you do-gooders. Whether you have a question, suggestion or even complaint(!), nothing's wasted on us.

Get in touch using the form below and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible! Alternatively, you can write to us at:

Rubies in the Rubble

The Old Chapel
Cheselbourne
Dorset
DT2 7NX

WHAT IS RUBIES IN THE RUBBLE?

So glad you asked! Rubies in the Rubble is an award-winning brand of delicious condiments made from ingredients that would otherwise be wasted. Our mission is to provide a solution to food waste but also raise awareness about food waste and the need to value our food supply.

WHAT PRODUCTS DO YOU SELL?

Our range of ketchups & relishes are made with fresh fruit & vegetables sourced directly from farms, whilst our mayo is made with aquafaba, a plant-based alternative to eggs that is usually thrown away. Condiments are a fantastic way of preserving produce by extending their shelf-life with vinegars and sugars.

WHAT IS THE STORY BEHIND THE NAME?

Rubies in the Rubble was originally a play on the phrase ‘diamond in the rough’ and it was from seeing a bounty of great fresh produce being discarded that I thought – there is treasure in this bounty. It may have a short shelf-life but I can turn it into something that will extend its life and value!

It’s about valuing things that are often over-looked. Where some see Rubble, we see Rubies!

WHY DO WE CARE ABOUT FOOD WASTE?

Today, approximately 1/3 of all food produced on our planet is wasted – either in transit (from field to consumer) or thrown by consumers buying too much and discarding the excess [1]

In total that’s 1.3 billion tonnes of food being wasted each year representing 3.3 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide emitted from its production (growing, harvesting, transporting, and packaging). And just to put 3.3bn metric tons of CO2 in perspective; if food-waste were a country, it would be the world’s third largest emitter of greenhouse gases, behind the U.S. and China. [2]

 

Therefore, as we explore ways of controlling the and whilst food waste accounts for 7% of all greenhouse gas emissions [3] is it not a logical step to address reducing our food waste footprint more closely?

To better manage what we already have rather than looking for solutions elsewhere?

Eradicating unnecessary food waste would not only impact carbon emissions, it would have other benefits and knock on effects including world hunger, political stability and preservation of our natural resources.

Deforestation is a large concern when addressing global warming.

Forests play a critical role in regulating our climate and are the 2nd largest store of carbon (after the oceans). But when cleared and burnt – predominantly to grow crops – our forests turn from valuable carbon stores to carbon-dioxide emitters.

Large-scale deforestation can be prevented through better, smarter agriculture[4]. While we waste 1/3 of food, we are required to grow 1.3 times as much as we need to feed the planet, all of which demands farmland, and thus putting forests at risk.[5]

Therefore, the way we produce and consume food needs to change for the sustainability of our resources and future food supply. Currently we produce enough food to feed everyone on our planet today and the 2.5 billion more people to come in the next 35 years. Globally we waste four times the amount of food which could feed all malnourished people around the world[6]. Yet by the way its currently managed, one would never know.

We have to waste less and feed more.

In our opinion, in developed countries, a big part of this is the need for us to change our attitude towards food – to see it as a precious, natural resource that needs to be enjoyed and treasured. We need to re-address use-by dates, as well as planning and caring for what we have in homes, retail and restaurants better. For developing countries, it involves looking at infrastructure to improve storage, transportation and communication around supply and demand / availability of markets.

We also each have a responsibility to ourselves, to only take sufficient amounts of food that we want to eat and to finish what we have on our plate.

The solution is within our grasp.

 

[1] UN Environment, 2019. Global Environment Outlook – GEO-6: Summary for Policymakers, Nairobi: Cambridge University Press.

[2] http://www.fao.org/docrep/018/i3347e/i3347e.pdf

 

[3] Murdock, A., 2017. What you need to know about food waste and climate change: A suprisingly large problem with some simple solutions. [Online] Available at: https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/longform/what-you-need-know-about-food-waste-and-climate-change[Accessed 28 February 2019].

[4] John Mandyck, the chief sustainability officer of United Technologies in Davos 2015

[5] John Mandyck, the chief sustainability officer of United Technologies in Davos 2015

[6] BCFN Foundation, 2019. Three Main Food Paradoxes. [Online] Available at: https://www.barillacfn.com/en/dissemination/paradox/ [Accessed 14 March 2019]

DO YOU HAVE ANY TIPS FOR WASTING LESS FOOD?

Our simple tips for cutting down food waste at home would be:

– know what’s in your fridge and when you shop, make a shopping list so that you only buy what you actually need.

– plan recipes or meals around what you have. Get creative, substitute ingredients in recipes to incorporate what you have.

– and use your freezer well…

people often don’t use their freezers enough – it keeps everything fresh for the time you need it so theres never a reason for throwing away half a loaf or extra stew. Make fruit or veg into a fruit compote or soup and freeze it for another day.

ARE YOUR PRODUCTS GLUTEN-FREE?

Yes! Our whole range of products are gluten free

ARE YOUR PRODUCTS SUITABLE FOR VEGANS?

Yes indeedy! Even our mayos are vegan-friendly!

ARE YOUR PRODUCTS GMO FREE?

Absolutely!

ARE YOUR PRODUCTS ORGANIC?

Not currently. Our mission is to save as much surplus ingredients from going to waste as we possibly can, which means working with all kinds of farms and all kinds of fruits and vegetables.

I'M NEW TO THE RANGE, WHICH PRODUCT SHOULD I TRY FIRST?

First things first, welcome! Our range has something to suit every palate, from sweet-tooths to spice fiends. You can’t beat our classic tomato ketchup, but if you want to try something new a good starting point is our best-selling Spicy Tomato for an all-round classic which goes with pretty much everything. If you don’t like too much spice, our seasonal Pear & Fig is naturally sweet and delicious.

THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH MY PRODUCT!

So sorry to hear that! Please email team@rubiesintherubble.com with a brief description of the problem and the batch number and best before date on the jar or bottle.

HOW LONG DO YOUR PRODUCTS LAST?

Unopened, our relishes and ketchups have a pretty good innings of around 2 years. Our mayos are good for about 6 months. But check the Best Before Date on the jar or bottle you’ve purchased to be sure. Once opened, we recommend that all our products be consumed within 8 weeks…but that’s because we’re legally required to give a date. We prefer the sniff test – if it looks and smells good, it’s likely to be fine!

WHERE CAN I BUY YOUR PRODUCTS ONLINE?

Whilst we are stocked in various independent online shops, your best bet is probably Ocado, Amazon, Waitrose, Sainsburys or Co-op. You can also buy from our online shop where you’ll be sure to find the full range!

I'M HOSTING AN EVENT AND WANT TO GET RUBIES INVOLVED

Great stuff! Please contact team@rubiesintherubble.com with details of your event and what kind of thing you’re after, e.g. goody bags

I WANT TO WRITE ABOUT RUBIES

Thanks for wanting to spread the love! Please get in touch with team@rubiesintherubble.com and we’ll be able to help you further.

I'M A BLOGGER, I WANT TO WORK WITH RUBIES

Great, we’d love to hear from you! Send an email with a link to your blog, a little bit about yourself and what you like to write about to team@rubiesintherubble.com.We’d love to connect on Instagram too – you can DM us at @rubiesintherubble.

If you have any ideas for collaborations you want to do with Rubies, please include these as well – nothing is wasted on us!

WHO SHOULD I CONTACT WITH IMAGE REQUESTS?

If you’re looking for hi-res images of our beaaautiful range, then contact: team@rubiesintherubble.com

WHICH DISTRIBUTORS DO YOU USE?

The distributors we use include, Cotswold Fayre, Suma, Diverse Fine Food, Essential Trading, The Health Store, Bidfood, Brakes, Arthur David, Albion, Woods and The Fine Food Forager.

DO YOU PROVIDE POS?

Yes! We have a range of barkers, posters and much more to come! Please get in touch with team@rubiesintherubble.com for more details on how we can help support sales.

I'M A RETAILER AND WANT TO GET IN TOUCH ABOUT POS, STAFF TRAINING, TASTINGS AND MARKETING

We’d love to support the sale of our products in any way that we can. As well as POS for in-store signalling and awareness, we’d love to share your content on our social channels, organise a training day with your staff and in-store tastings. Please get in contact with team@rubiesintherubble.com

I'M DELI/ CAFE/ RESTAURANT AND WOULD LIKE TO STOCK THE RUBIES RANGE

If you own a deli, cafe or restaurant, and are interested in stocking the Rubies range, then we would love to hear from you! We have a range of products available for retail and food service.  Choose from our existing range of relishes or our food service range of ketchups, mayos and relishes, available in catering tubs. We work with distributors – alternatively, get in touch with us directly for all stockist enquiries.

CAN I BUY DIRECT?

Sure! If you get in touch with team@rubiesintherubble.com, our sales team will be able to help you out. We offer free delivery and a trade discount, for orders over £150.

I OWN A CAFE AND INTERESTED IN USING SOME OF YOUR PRODUCTS ON THE MENU, HOW BEST DO I GO ABOUT THIS?

Great! Thanks for your interest, we’re really excited to discuss how our condiments can add some food-waste-fighting deliciousness to your menu! If you get in touch with us at team@rubiesintherubble.com, our sales team will be able to help you out with samples and pricing.

I WANT TO STOCK YOUR PRODUCTS IN MY SHOP/DELI, HOW CAN THIS BE ARRANGED?

Great! If you get in touch with us at team@rubiesintherubble.com, our sales team will be able to help you out with samples and pricing.