Local Roots

Paused.The website says new subscriptions are paused for now.

What's in the box: A monthly selection of artisanal snacks and starters from independent small-batch makers across South Africa.

Local Roots is not taking new subscriptions right now; the website says new sign-ups are paused for the time being. When it was running, this South African service put together a monthly snack box built around small-batch makers from across the country, with the stated aim of offering an alternative to mass-produced supermarket snacks. Each month brought a newly curated selection of artisanal snacks and starters from independent producers, so the contents changed from box to box. The company was founded by two high school friends based in Durban and Pretoria, who say they found many of their products at local markets and through smaller producers that shoppers might not otherwise come across. Alongside the monthly subscription, the site also offered gift boxes and a referral programme, and it advertised free nationwide shipping within South Africa. The site does not state when, or whether, subscriptions will reopen, and it does not give a clear breakdown of box sizes or what any particular month contained. Until the service confirms it has resumed, there is no way to start a subscription, so anyone interested in South African artisan snacks will need to look elsewhere for now. If it does return, it would mainly appeal to people who want to discover local, independent food producers rather than familiar brands.