Anyone with experience of Abel and Cole AND Riverford?

[Gem13]

We now have both delivering in our area. We have previously used Riverford but I know there have been rave reviews about Abel and Cole.

Which do you prefer?

I used ABel and Cole a while ago. The fruit and veg went off very quickly and you got an awful lot of potatoes/carrots/onions. Wasn't overly impressed tbh.

I love Riverford. I used to get Abel and Cole but I thought the veg were not in great condition and over priced. However, to be fair, that was about 9 years ago in London. I know lots of people love A&C.

Beware re Abel and Cole, I was going to try them a whiel back, put some stuff in my basket but DIDN'T press checkout, in fact opened another window to do something else and then got distracted by children etc and the order turned up anyway. When I called they said you didn't have to confirm the order and this is why it turned up. although they might have changed it by now, seems like a mad system to me, they mut get lots of people rejecting orders because they hadn't realised it would happen. They must have changed that now, surely, it's a v obvious flaw!

I used to use Able and Cole. They were overpriced compared to the local company I use now. The veg is better quality now and I get a choice, not the UK-wide take it or leave it the A&C deliver outside of London.

We used to use Abel and Cole, and their quality was really dreadful for the amount you pay for it! We now use Riverford, and they are fab.

Thank you all. I have stuck to Riverford. I was always pleased with them - it was the idea of substititions that was swaying me. But no good if the food quality isn't great.

Looking forward to the return of the Jerusalem artichokes!

Spidermama's experience is exactly the same as mine - we used A & C possibly about 9 years ago, and found the quality of food average. We kept stopping our order and the week before we stopped each time the quality would be better. coincidence? Don't think so. Also they were a little rude about us stopping.

Have been with riverford a few months and find them excellent. Friendly, easy to change orders online, great quality produce. Would never go back to A and C.

In the times, riverford and abel and cole came joint top- I have opted for riverford but mainly coz Abel etc don't deliver here (shame- their fruit looked good)

Oldiemum's switched too.

I've kept with A&C out of, well, inertia mainly, plus the fact I get bread and eggs and all sorts from them. Although I'm a bit fed up that the quality of the delivery blokes has gone off; a nice young man bringing boxes into my kitchen in a caring yet muscly way used to be the high spot of my week.