Swanage in Dorset is set to welcome a brand new food and grocery delivery service, designed to support local businesses and serve the community seven days a week.
Food2You, founded by Sarah Tones of Worth Matravers, will deliver freshly made meals, groceries and everyday essentials from independent Swanage businesses directly to customers’ doors.
Sarah Tones has launched local delivery service Food2You, with her friend Tom Wishart building its website and app
Strong focus on local economy
The service aims to launch by the end of January 2026, with friendly local drivers at first delivering across Swanage, Harmans Cross, Acton, Langton Matravers, Worth and Studland, but with hopes to spread to Corfe Castle eventually.
Food2You is being described as a local Deliveroo, but with a strong focus on affordability, community connection and keeping money within the local economy.
Whether it’s a school night meal, a last minute grocery top up, a weekend takeaway, breakfast after a night shift, or support for those who are unwell or less mobile, business owner Sarah hopes to fill a long standing gap in local services.
She said the idea came from seeing how well national delivery apps work in larger towns, and how there was a noticeable absence of a local alternative in rural areas.
Leaflets promoting the service are already being distributed around Swanage and Purbeck
“We’re always ordering food on apps”
Sarah Tones said:
“I’m originally from Birmingham, and whenever I go back to see family we’re always ordering food on apps, especially in the mornings. I’ve always thought Swanage needed something like that.
“But when I moved to Worth, where there are no shops at all – that’s when I thought we really needed this service, and I suppose that’s really where the idea came from.
“It has also been inspired by a wish to help older relatives and those who struggle to get out and about.
“My father-in-law lives in Acton and his grandson picks up an Indian meal for him every Friday because he can’t go and get it himself. It made me realise how many people would benefit from a reliable local delivery service.”
Coastal Crust pizzas are now on the menu for delivery across Swanage and villages
Keen to involve more local businesses
Confirmed businesses currently working with Food2You include Coastal Crust Pizza, Court Hill Wines, Munch Food, Burnt Toast and Wimpy. Sarah is also keen to involve more Swanage bakers, fishmongers and butchers as the service grows.
National chain stores and supermarkets are not being included in the plan – Swanage’s Wimpy is a franchise run by local owners – with the focus remaining firmly on independent traders.
While the service will primarily operate through an app, Food2You will also offer an email pre-order option for elderly residents who may not be comfortable using smartphones, and repeat orders can also be requested, allowing customers to receive regular essentials such as milk and bread.
The Food2You app will be open seven days a week from 9 am to 10 pm with no minimum order value, meaning customers can order anything from a pint of milk to a full takeaway from multiple shops.
Delivery costs will be £6 for homes in or close to Swanage, or £8 to homes a little further afield. Local drivers are already in place to make deliveries with a smile, and will receive 60 percent of delivery fees and 100 percent of all tips.
Tom Wishart, founder of Thanks Tom, is providing the technical support behind Food2You
“We will have a cash option to pay”
Tom Wishart, who has developed the company’s app, said:
“We have looked at the market, and Swanage has its elderly population who don’t find it so easy to get out and shop at a moment’s notice, and a lot of shift workers who may get home late at night and not want to cook a meal, or need to order in a hot breakfast after working through the night.
“And for much of the year, Swanage also has its holiday makers who want to order the odd top up to their store cupboards, or have a takeaway treat.
“It’s essentially a better version of asking a taxi to go to collect and deliver a bottle of wine, which is what a lot of people do even though the taxi fare may be more than the cost of what they are buying.
“It has taken a while to develop the app and get it right – you can buy food delivery apps off the shelf, but they are rubbish. Because we have designed this ourselves with our target market in mind, we have made it efficient and easy to use.
“We are expecting the majority of orders to be made by card or PayPal, but we will have a cash option because we know how important it is to many people in Swanage.”
Swanage street food company Munch is one of the first to begin working with Food2You
“A familiar face delivering”
Sarah Tones said:
“We’re getting so close now to being able to deliver local food and groceries straight to the doorstep with a smile! I honestly can’t wait for Swanage to finally have this option, I think it’s going to be a real game changer.
“We are dedicated to taking the very best from local businesses to our rural community, ensuring that every order supports the people and shops that make Purbeck unique.
“We are committed to keep money circulating within the community, champion local flavours, and make rural living more connected and convenient.
“Because we’re local, there will be a familiar face delivering, not just a bag dropped at the door by someone you don’t know. That’s really important for elderly customers and carers.”
Beer and wines from Court Hill will soon be available to order in
“Swanage needs something like this”
Sarah added:
“The app will be open seven days a week, from 9 am to 10 pm, to ensure consistency, even during quieter periods. I’ll be working flat out, but it’s important to keep the app open every day so people can rely on it.
“I’m keen to get all the local businesses involved – I think Food2You will naturally evolve once it starts up and word gets around, Swanage has needed something like this for a long time.
“We are testing the system now and intend to launch before the end of January 2026.
“The idea is that we will start running on a Monday, because it shouldn’t be as busy as it will be on a weekend – and we are out of season as well, which should help while we get used to the new business.”
The Swanage franchise of Wimpy is run by a local family and will join the Food2You clan
Further information
- Look out for the launch date on the Food2You Facebook page
- The company website will be going live here by the end of January 2026
