Our Story

Purpose and Journey

Welcome to Spice Drive, a micro business based in the heart of Oldham UK. Established in 2017 and run by myself, Kaleemah a mum of one.

The idea of Spice Drive’s first thoughts were back in 2011. It took 6 years to make it a reality. Throughout this time, I wrote down different ideas. Digging deep to what I strongly felt Oldham was missing.

Task 1: Despite an array of places to get spices, there wasn’t the same availability for organic spices.

Task 2: Plastic free packaging. I wanted clients to receive a hassle-free shopping experience that matched the recycling facilities that Oldham council provide. I didn’t see the point in supplying jazzy eco-friendly items that once used could of have been binned into the household grey bin and heading for the landfill. Simply because there is nowhere for these items to suitably to go. Carefully selecting to go with glass and paper/cardboard packaging I felt was right for the town and the business ethos I wanted to achieve.

Task 3: Supplying to the UK mainland only. Making the decision to not send goods back across the sea, from where some of them came. This makes sense ethically and it is not just about the sale factor for Spice Drive.

Task four: Choosing made in GB wherever possible. Supporting local small businesses and artisans to connect consumers to what is in our Oldham town. Task five, being inclusive offering services that includes and not excludes people. 

Read Our Promise page.

2018 I was diagnosed with two cancers. The plans to get a big delivery service going along with a high street shop, the plans hit a wall. I was deeply upset about the future of Spice Drive for a time. Once I took a breath and gathered my thoughts. I put my energy where my heart was and that was into building Spice Drive up to be a positive and productive role in the community. I stayed open minded throughout, rewrote a new plan and knuckled down because closing the doors on my dream wasn’t an option. Having uplifting community helped tremendously.

In 2019 with a new outlook. I changed the business logo, expanded the stock slowly and started to see and feel Spice Drive making small positive steps little by little. New Facebook groups named Recipe share with Spice Drive and Plastic Free Oldham were created.

With a personal feeling of wanting to give back after everything so far. It felt fitting The Christie’s was the place to start. After the amazing treatment I received. So, I challenged myself to do a skydive and with the help of amazing sponsors helping to raise £1,257.85. I completed the skydive on 21st September 2019.

 

Despite all the setbacks Spice Drive has come a long way. I see it forever adapting in to the future. I was thrilled to share in 2020 a unit shop opened in Chadderton at Falcon business centre, unit E4 for 2 years. Before closing the doors and relocating back to my home due to ill-health.

 

Where now? I am living with stage 4 cancer. I work within my home kitchen with lots to offer and a few year’s experience under my belt. With great intention to grow and reach out to as many locals as I am able to. Encouraging foods and liquid cleaning products refills, I am here to pack all your chosen kitchen essentials and gifts into plastic free packaging. This small business has survived a global pandemic and I cannot thank you enough for the outstanding support.

 

 

Let’s count our blessings. Keep things simple, smile, reuse. Buy what you need and nothing more.

From Kaleemah owner of Spice Drive.

 

 

 

READ MORE HERE

ORGANIC SPICES

We believe one of the main reasons to switch to organic spices is the fact that it does not use any synthetic chemicals and pesticides for the cultivation process at all, and instead substitutes it with organic manure and bio fertilizers. 
 
MINIMAL PACKAGKING
We believe in providing completely plastic free and providing as many products as we can with reduced packaging. So that we can help people lead a more zero waste lifestyle and that any products we do provide with packaging is fully recyclable, reusable or compostable.
 
INCLUSIVITY
We will be helpful, informative and inclusive. We will update you on not only our shop updates but helpful tips to lead a more sustainable and environmentally friendly lifestyle to make this way of living as accessible as possible through our blog, social media outlets, that you can share with your friends and family to encourage them to take your lead, as well as of course, face to face.
 
SUPPORTING MARGINALISED GROUPS
We believe in throwing ourselves into the community and being active in a variety of projects. For example supporting local Ukeff-Oldham charity food hub by offering a unique opportunity by being a UK FIRST TO ACCEPT PLACTIC FREE DONATIONS. Through opening up a part of our unit shop space to be a food donation drop off point to make it accessible for local people to help other local people within our community.
We offer adult and child noise cancelling headphones to support anyone who need or want them while within our premises to ease transition from one busy area to another.
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OUR PROMISE
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Charities We Support

Sands stillbirth and neonatal death charity is one that is close to my heart. The Christie is a charity that I will forever support and be connected to due to my own personal journey, along with the Maggie’s Centres that have played a special support network. Oldham Food Aid Hub is a Oldham charity that I have admired and followed since it’s early days. The dedication and hard work in feeding the community is outstanding. As I mention above my premises offers a safe non perishable food and drink drop off point for donations. Making it so the charity can distribute out to people within the community every Monday.

Sands Logo
The Christie Logo
Spice Drive Reuse Fill Weigh
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