Make Christmas shopping easy with Gift Lounge hampers
by
Ann Davies
I live in Whitstable but I love living la dolce vita! After spending 20 years in London working in fashion and design I relocated to Whitstable in 2010. Around 15 years ago I started working for a local Italian import and export company and began what has been a gastronomic journey around the Mediterranean. After a decision was made to relocate the business, I set up a new venture with my Bologna-based Italian partner.
We specialise in hampers and eco-friendly gift boxes packed with award-winning culinary treasures from Italy. We have hand-picked our suppliers and pride ourselves on the quality of their lovingly-produced products.
Many of our items come directly from farmers and small-scale artisan producers who actively use integrated, environmentally sustainable methods so we can be sure of their quality. This means our products are not packed with preservatives, artificial colours or flavour enhancers.
Our hampers are filled with luxury food items that will evoke memories of Italy or offer an authentic taste of the world’s favourite cuisine – the perfect gift for foodie friends, colleagues or relations. But we also supply “luxury” at an affordable price with our small gift box, “An Italian Christmas” costing as little as £25 for a truly delightful selection of key lovelies: panettone, pasta, chocolates, olives and something truffle related. There is no end point as I can also create a bespoke “selection trunk” to the value of £350 and beyond – we cater for all!
Among the many delights inside our gift boxes and hampers you’ll find items such as beautifully hand-wrapped Panettone made by the world-famous Fiasonaro bakery, preserved black winter truffle from Umbria, a single-estate, organic extra virgin olive oil made from classic Sicilian olives , IGP balsamic vinegar from Modena, premium pasta made by true artisans at the foot of Mount Vesuvius, the finest Sicilian antipasti, magnificent ragu from Siena, sweet almond cantuccini from Tuscany, award-winning Prosecco, a full-bodied Chianti from Tuscany, a delightful DOC Grillo and a double-gold star winning Limoncello.
And best of all, as our hampers are bespoke and packed to order you can mix and match the contents. Because of our trusted links we have direct access to hundreds of different products from Italy – and Spain – so if you have something particular in mind, feel free to get in touch with me to let me know your requirements or to discuss your thoughts – and we can create something really special.
We offer eco-friendly gift boxes that are 100% recyclable and made here in the UK. For larger orders we can provide willow wicker hampers coppiced from fast-growing regenerating crops that are cultivated solely for this purpose. We carefully wrap all the items inside with hive paper. It is 100% recyclable, biodegradable and the perfect alternative to plastic bubble and foam wraps. We use natural eco-friendly shred that is biodegradable, recyclable and made from 100% recycled paper in UK paper mills. We promise you won’t find a single bit of shiny cellophane in our wrapping!
We pride ourselves on offering contemporary, modern hampers for Mediterranean food lovers. Our company is based, above all, on customer care and quality and we want you to be confident that the gift you choose will be hand-packed with care, full of items we are proud of, beautifully presented without the use of plastic and delivered at the right time.
Setting up a business at the tail-end of the Covid pandemic and trading throughout the cost-of-living crisis has been extremely challenging but we have seen regular repeat customers who come back time and time again for gifts, advice and sometimes just a chat! We pride ourselves on offering a bespoke, personalised service and we will do whatever we can to ensure your gift is extra special.
So simply email ann@giftlounge.co.uk or Direct Message me on Instagram @giftloungeuk and I will be happy to send you our mini mailout. We deliver locally and ship anywhere in mainland UK – and also include free personalised cards with all orders.
We’re here to help you tick off your Christmas list without any of the stress. Shop with specialists, shop with confidence and shop local. We promise you won’t regret it. Buy Gift Lounge and… relax.
About:
A self-confessed Italophile, Ann Davies has been sourcing, sampling and selling food from the region for the past 15 years. In 2021 she set up a new company with her Bologna-based Italian partner specialising in Mediterranean hampers. Ann runs Gift Lounge from her home town of Whitstable alongside working part-time for the charity Sense on Whitstable High Street.
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