French wine and cider were delivered by sail to one of Plymouth’s newest waterfront cafés as part of an eco-friendly initiative launched by the venue. New café and deli-bar The Hidden Olive on Sutton Harbour’s waterfront unloaded an array of organic wines and ciders off the 108ft lugger Grayhound, which travelled from Brittany to deliver the produce.

The harbourside location overlooking the marina has enabled the venue to organise the tall ship to deliver French produce direct to the kitchen every month over the summer. The ship that delivered the goods is part of the TransOceanic Wind Transport (TOWT) company, which is a sailing cargo transport business that offers a green alternative to modern forms of shipping.

The Hidden Olive owner Sam Bagshawe said:

‘Bringing a tall ship to Sutton Harbour and unloading its cargo by hand is fantastic, it’s a wonderful traditional practise which we are doing in a marina that is so full of nautical history.

‘If we can’t source certain produce locally then we want to ensure that it is not only of an amazing quality but is delivered to us in an eco-friendly way. We are incredibly excited about working with TOWT and the Grayhound over the coming months.’

All of the produce that are transported under sail are identifiable with a quality label ‘Transporté à la voile‘ marking the carbon savings. Wines and ciders are all organic-certified and additive-free. This is the first of many deliveries to the café, who will receive deliveries every month until September, bringing other goods to the Harbour including chocolate and other European treats.

Charlotte Malcolm, Commercial Marketing Manager for Sutton Harbour Holdings plc, said:

‘We are delighted that the Hidden Olive is using its great harbour front location at Sutton Harbour for this new venture, it’s great to see their passion for tradition as well as the environment. It will be exciting to see the different products delivered every month, and to welcome the Grayhound into Westcountry waters.’

The ship is going on to Falmouth, before heading back to Brittany. The Hidden Olive at Pinnacle Quay on Plymouth’s waterfront serves fresh coffee and homemade sandwiches, soups, pastries and cakes.