Business is booming for Norfolk company despite the pandemic

For many businesses, coronavirus is the toughest problem they've ever had to face.

With their customers under lockdown, shops shuttered, cashflow drying up and their staff on furlough, they wonder how they're going to survive.

But amid all these threats, some companies are finding ways to forge ahead.

Once such company is Norfolk in a Box which has seen a substantial increase in its services since the pandemic began.

Based in Wereham, the small family business continues to pull out all the stops in the last ten months to meet the demand of customers.

Lee Martin, owner of Norfolk in a Box, said: "People talk about businesses that have struggled during the pandemic, well we've been at the other end of the scale.

"We've been flat out, seven-days-a-week. Some of us have been working more than 100 hours a week.

"In the first lockdown we had to employ five extra drivers and an extra nine staff just to pack the boxes as we were that busy.

“In terms of produce, people are wanting everything. People are loving our Norfolk veg boxes, they’re just flying out the door.

"You here about people's mental health suffering because they haven't been busy but we've been the other way around.

"We've constantly been at work and our children and family have suffered because of this. Two or three nights a week I haven't even been in my own bed at night because we've been delivering to London."

Mr Martin's partner Rachel Stevens is also part of the small family business, which has been established for around 15 years.

Norfolk in a Box covers King's Lynn, Downham, the North Norfolk coast, Wisbech, Sutton Bridge, Newmarket, Bury St Edmunds, Ely, Diss and Lowestoft.

The company prides itself on using Norfolk produce from the many farms across the county. The only non-local produce are oranges and lemons.

They deliver fresh vegetables directly to your home or work place, including their vegetable and fruit boxes, which can be tailor-made to suit at a competitive price.

"Everything we do is Norfolk based," said Mr Martin.

"If it's in season and it's produced in Norfolk then we'll have it, even it means me paying double the price for something like a box of leeks.

"It's about putting business back into the county. Even our cardboard is recycled in the county so all money is being put back into the Norfolk economy."

For more information about Norfolk in a Box and what they have to offer, please visit: https://norfolkinabox.co.uk/