Aurther is a new free local monthly newspaper with independent living at its heart. In their first edition they were kind enough to say these lovely things about us:

Millie’s is a thoroughly independent deli-style shop located right in the centre of Leeds. It’s fast becoming a firm favourite with Arthur and a growing number of discerning Leeds people looking for something organic, tasty, unique and local, as well as all kinds of beauty and body products.

The owner/manager Natalie says, ‘ It’s a family-run store – we believe in supporting local producers and other independent producers as well as stocking the many specialist items and top quality produce people can’t find at more mainstream places. We offer local meat from Tancred Field Farm, fruit and vegetables from Whitleys of Pudsey, and Fairtrade chocolate from ChocAffair in York. Our specialist deli counter is ideal for your Christmas cheese boards, as well as cheese hampers including chutneys from Bracken Hill and crackers from the Fine Cheese Co.

There’s also a take away food counter for sandwiches, coffees, rather fabulous home-made soups and cakes, a fresh salad bar, juices and smoothies and a hot meal of the day.

We do gift hampers ranging from as little as £20 too.

Natalie is keen to point out that Millie’s is not just a food store, ‘We have trained staff to help you select the right vitamins and herbal supplements and our natural and organic body care and make up range include Burt’s Bee’s, Dr Hauschka and Weleda. There is also a massive selection of sports nutrition located on the first floor.

For a little more pampering, Millie’s Beauty Salon and Spa Room providing the most up to date treatments such as Minx and Shellac Nails, Sienna x Spray tans and Eminence Organics facials and body treatments.’

Arthur appoves…

www.meetarthur.co.uk

At Millies we aim to support as many local companies as we can. And when it came to organising a wedding, we knew we didn’t have to look any further than what was on our doorstep to find top quality produce. From local cheeses in our Cheese Wedding Cake to Fairtrade chocolate favours specially made and personalised for us by Choc-affair in York. But when it came to wedding flowers, we only had to call next door to Brian’s Florist in Leeds Market. With the smallest of briefs and a quick description of the colour theme, we left them to arrange everything. What they put together for us was simply amazing.

If you are looking for wedding flowers, I can personally recommend Brian’s Florist to you. Or just call in and buy a few bunches of flowers for someone you care about. Make sure you mention our name!

To make it even easier to check our latest treatments from our beauty salon and book appointments, if you have an iPhone, you can also add Millies to your Home Screen:

1. Open m.milliesleeds.co.uk and click the Add button  at the bottom of the screen.
2. Click “Add to Home Screen“.

   

3. Type a name for the icon that will appear on your home screen.
4. Click “Add“.

After this, there will be a Millies icon on your home screen.

We’re still working on the site, so keep checking for updates and please let us know what you think in the comments below. Do you have a smartphone? Do you find optimised sites helpful or do you always click through to the full site?

Our past competitions on Twitter always seemed to go down well, so we thought we’d bring the fun to Facebook.

On Monday 27th June 2011, we’ll randomly select two people who will both win one of our new Fruit Juices or Smoothies. All you have to do to enter is:

• Open this link on Facebook and simply click ‘Like’.

Make sure you also ‘Like’ our Facebook page so we can let you know if you’re a winner.

Our freshly made Fruit Juices come in a large 12oz cup made using the whole fruit (none of the vitamins and minerals are wasted) . Our Smoothies are made with frozen fruit so we don’t have to water it down with ice.

In the meantime, it’s currently Buy One Get One Half Price on all of our Fruit Juices and Smoothies, so if you can’t wait for the winner to be picked, just call in and see us for one!

Winners must collect prize from the store.

It’s been a while since we celebrated the fantastic support we have on Twitter. But as we approach (quite a big) follower milestone, we’d like restart our tradition and reward our 1,500th follower – and the person that refers them to us – with something nice. This time, you get to take your pick from our fantastic range of artisan pasta.

All colours are derived from natural food like beetroot, chilli’s, tomatoes, spinach, nettle etc. with no colourings or preservatives. It’s made in a very small pasta factory in Puglia using bronze dies & slow drying.

Check out what Rich from them-apples.co.uk thought to our pasta when he used it in Pasta carbonara, with pancetta, peas and sage.

Previous winners include Sarah Carling and Joe Czucha for our 700th follwer, James Holden and the Culture Vulture for our 600th follower, Katie and Elle for our 500th follower, Kev Charlton and Emma Croxall for our 400th follower, Alex Duffy and Harriet Jennings for our 300th follower and Phil Kirby and Kevin Hoare for our 200th follower.

Bag must be collected from the store.

As we approach another follower milestone on Twitter, we’d like to continue our tradition and reward the 700th follower – and the person that refers them to us – with something nice. This time it’s another personal favourite of mine. Ever since we got this natural body care range in I’ve been a massive fan, using it daily since day one. So I want to give you a sample of how good JASON natural shampoo and conditioner is, by letting you take away the fragrance of you choice, for free.

This is an effective, environmentally-friendly alternative to mass-produced, synthetic chemical products. Since 1959, JASON has strived to produce only pure, carefully balanced products that contain the highest quality, naturally sourced ingredients, known to be skin compatible and proven effective. Their products contain the finest food-grade, natural, organic and nutritional ingredients that deliver topical benefits to the hair and skin.

Previous winners include James Holden and the Culture Vulture for our 600th follower, Katie and Elle for our 500th follower, Kev Charlton and Emma Croxall for our 400th follower, Alex Duffy and Harriet Jennings for our 300th follower and Phil Kirby and Kevin Hoare for our 200th follower.

It only seems like a month ago that we were handing out Hot Chocolate On a Stick to Katie and Elle in celebration of our 500th follower. But as we approach another follower milestone on Twitter, we’d like to continue our tradition and reward the 600th follower – and the person that refers them to us – with something nice. This month it’s one of my personal favourites and one of our most popular products. The Replenishing Lip Balm with Pomegranate Oil from Burt’s Bees.

Burt’s Bees Natural Pomegranate lip balm contains 100% natural ingredients for a truly moisturising experience. Replenishing and conditioning, this beautiful balm contains rich oils to help your lips look healthy and hydrated. Packed with antioxidants, this natural pomegranate lip balm coats lips with a subtle rosy hue, for truly luscious-looking lips.

Previous winners include Katie and Elle for our 500th follower, Kev Charlton and Emma Croxall for our 400th follower, Alex Duffy and Harriet Jennings for our 300th follower and Phil Kirby and Kevin Hoare for our 200th follower.

Must be collected by the winners!

As we approach another follower milestone on Twitter, we’d like to continue our tradition and reward the 500th follower – and the person that refers them to us – with something nice. And what better than my new favourite product, the Hot Chocolate on a Stick from Choc-Affair.

We’ll even warm some milk up for you – or you can just take it away for a late night treat.

Previous winners include Kev Charlton and Emma Croxall for our 400th follower, Alex Duffy and Harriet Jennings for our 300th follower and Phil Kirby and Kevin Hoare for our 200th follower.

Must be collected by the winners!

Yes we can’t believe it either… it’s been a year since we first opened our doors in Leeds! In a very difficult economic climate many people thought we were mad opening what we see as a local/fresh foods/deli/natural bodycare/health food store – I don’t know what to call us really?! But with the support from the Leeds locals our first year has flown by. To thank you in helping us in this busy year we would like to invite you to our first birthday party!

Venue: Millies Fresh and Organic, 109 Vicar Lane, Leeds, LS1 6PJ (map).
Date and Time: Thursday 17th December 4pm – 7pm.

We will be drawing a raffle on the evening with the prize being a Millies Hamper. Tickets will be sold all week in store and the money raised will be going to the Breast Cancer Haven.

We will also be offering a 10% discount on all hampers either purchased or ordered on the night and every visitor will also receive a free gift bag on arrival.

Our new local farmers Dean and Angela Hullah from Tancred Farm, Whixley will be there to answer any questions you have on who they are, about their animals and how they run their farm.

Mark Boland, Solgar’s nutritional adviser will be on hand to give out advice on how to beat the winter colds or any other aliments you may have.

Beauty expert Becki, representative for Jasons, Giovanni and Elysambre make up will be promoting those last minute Christmas ideas for all the family!

And of course I’m sure there will be some birthday cake!

Natalie and family

We finally got to meet the lovely Katie from Leeds Grub in person when she called round to collect a hamper we had made up for her. She requested a Yorkshire themed hamper with lots of goodies in and blogged about it on her site:

Millies stock a great selection of locally produced gourmet items such as cheese, fresh bread and preserves. They also make delicious home made cakes, mince pies and biscuits. As well as range of pre made Christmas hampers, they will also for a small fee package up any purchases in a lovely presentation basket.

This huge Yorkshire themed hamper put together for me by Millies came to just £50 and contained the following: 2 jars of Bracken Hill chutney, 2 truckles of Yorkshire cheese, soup, chocolate, porcini mushroom crackers, home made mince pies, ginger biscuits and fruit cake, fresh bread, Yorkshire Tea, Taylors Christmas Coffee, a Christmas pudding, a bar of natural soap, mulled wine spice, and a bottle of Yorkshire punch.

We have a range of hampers to suit everyone on any budget, including fine food hampers, made to order cheese hampers and bodycare hampers. All can be made up for you or personalised. Please view our our Christmas Gift Hamper pages for more information.