New online map shows where you can buy flour - here's how to access it

A new online map, which will direct home-bakers to retail outlets where flour is available, is now live.

Published 16th Apr 2020
Updated 9 th Aug 2023

Due to the current coronavirus pandemic and subsequent bulk buying, flour has been one of the things missing from most supermarket shelves.

But now there's an easy way to located that much sought-after ingredient, thanks to a new interactive flour map from the trade association for UK flour millers – the National Association of British and Irish Millers (nabim).

The association has been working with retailers to create a nationwide "retail flour network" of sellers who can provide the public with bags over 3kg, which are normally supplied to caterers and commercial businesses.

The resulting flour map means people can now search for local bakeries, wholesalers and supermarkets where the larger bags are available for the general public to buy.

Why there's no smaller bags of flour in stores

Since the coronavirus lockdown, a shortage of smaller 1.5kg-3kg bags on supermarket shelves has led to fears about supplies of flour nationally.

However nabim says that the problem is due to the sudden surge in demand for smaller sized bags, and that supplies of commercial flour have been unaffected.

Director general Alex Waugh says: “The problem, with regard to home-baking flour, is that ordinarily the market share is tiny – just 4 per cent, compared to the commercial sector.

“There is no problem in milling enough flour, but the sudden spike in demand has led to issues in physically being able to pack enough small, household bags for distribution to supermarkets and grocery stores.

"Retail packing lines are running 24 hours a day, seven days a week and overall output has doubled in the past month.”

Since the outbreak, nabim has set up an early warning system which enables its members to flag emerging problems before they become critical.

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This provides vital time for issues to be addressed both from the industry’s own resources and, where necessary, with the support of government or other parts of the food chain.

“The message to consumers is that flour is in plentiful supply, and there is now a convenient way of finding places that sell larger bags,” says Mr Waugh.

“On the bright side, it’s good to see so many people rediscovering the joys of baking at home! Hopefully this will continue once the current coronavirus situation is resolved.”

How to find flour near you

The map can be accessed here. and retailers and other businesses who would like to be included in the network, or would like more details, should contact nabim at info@nabim.org.uk

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Known for cake making, experimental jam recipes, Champagne, whisky and gin drinking (and the inability to cook Gnocchi), Rosalind is the Food and Drink Editor and whisky writer for The Scotsman, as well as hosting Scran, The Scotsman's food and drink podcast.
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