Frequently Asked Questions

How long do the products last?

The granolas have a shelf life of 4 months and the overnight oat mixes have 6 months. The bars will last for 1 month when stored in an airtight container. 

You can also freeze the granola and bars.

The granola and overnight oat pouches are heat sealed to keep the products as fresh as when baked / blended. When you open the pouches you can use the resealable pouch to store the products in – but please ensure the pouch is completely resealed. If the seal is not completely intact the product will start to take in moisture from the air, which will mean that the oats will soften and you will lose the lovely granola crunch I work so hard to achieve! You also run the risk of the nuts and seeds staling if they are not kept airtight. I keep mine in glass jars (a jam jar is ideal!).  

I am a coeliac – can I eat your products?

The oats I buy are certified gluten free. All the other ingredients are naturally free from gluten although they are not certified as gluten free. Sunbird packaging clearly states ‘Made in a kitchen that handles gluten, tree nuts, peanuts, sesame seeds, eggs, soya, and milk. May also contain shell and pip fragments’.

If you are looking for a granola that has a GF certification and has been tested, then to be on the safe side you may wish to avoid the products. Testing and certification is a costly process and is not something I am able to provide at the moment. However, I will keep this under review.

 

I have a peanut allergy, can I eat your products?

My son has a peanut allergy so I experience first hand the need to be scrupulous about checking products for allergen content.

My pledge is to keep all my products peanut free. However, due to the nature of working in a shared kitchen and sourcing many other nuts and seeds I cannot guarantee to you that my products are completely peanut free. I wish I could. I use many nuts, such as almonds, hazelnuts, cashews to name a few – and there is always a chance that there could be cross contamination at the nut packing facility. If you are in any doubt, please refrain from consuming Sunbird products.

 

What other allergens do your products contain?

Each label on the back of the packaging lists all ingredients in descending order and allergens are listed in BOLD CAPITALS.

If you want to read more about the 14 allergens that must be legally declared on packaging please click here:

https://www.food.gov.uk/sites/default/files/media/document/top-allergy-types.pdf

https://www.food.gov.uk/business-guidance/allergen-guidance-for-food-businesses

 

Are Sunbird products dairy free?

Yes! I do not use dairy products. However, I do declare that Sunbird packaging clearly states ‘Made in a kitchen that handles gluten, tree nuts, peanuts, sesame seeds, eggs, soya, and milk. May also contain shell and pip fragments’.

 

Are Sunbird products organic?

The provenance of ingredients is a serious consideration to me. I take time when sourcing raw materials. I do my best to source from ethical suppliers who are working hard to produce fairly, minimise their carbon footprint and use processing methods and packaging that are sustainable.

I would love to say that 100% of ingredients used are organic, but honestly have you seen the price of organic nuts?! I do my best to source organic wherever possible – at present organic ingredients include oats, apricots, buckwheat groats, cacao nibs, cacao powder, chia seeds, coconut milk powder, coconut oil, coconut strips, coconut sugar, flax seeds, hemp hearts, orange juice, pumpkin seeds, quinoa flakes and sour cherries.

Organic ingredients are listed on the ingredient declaration on the back of each packet – all organic ingredients are marked with a  *

I consistently review suppliers and will add to the organic ingredients I use when I can.

 

Are Sunbird products vegan?

Mostly – the only exception is the Cashew and almond granola which uses honey. I have an excellent honey supplier – my mother-in-law, who has her own apiary in North Devon. Her honey is on the next level of deliciousness!

 

Do you have serving suggestions for the granolas and overnight oats?

I sure do!

Sunbird granola is pretty decadent so I would not advise pouring it into a bowl and eating it like cornflakes! The way I like it best is to enhance a dish. So, for example, make up a serving of porridge or overnight oats and sprinkle the granola over the top. Another favourite is to take full fat Greek yogurt, stewed fruit (I like mixed berries) and add a sprinkling of granola and a drizzle of almond butter.

The granolas are also a great snack – anytime of the day. I always keep some in my bag to snack on if I get hungry when I am out and about.

With the overnight oats – I literally add milk / mylk of my choice (mine is oat milk  - Moma Barista) and top with Sunbird granola and a runny nut butter (Pip & Nut have some great flavours). The overnight oats also work well if you substitute some of the milk / mylk with a fruit juice of your own choice – I like the Apricot and Chia with a splash of orange juice and topped with fresh orange segments.

If you keep an eye on the recipe page and the Sunbird Kitchen social media pages, there will be updates and lots of visuals to give you inspiration for serving suggestions.

 

I would like to leave you a review – how do I do that?

Thank you for asking, I would love you to leave a review. The best way is to leave a google review. If you can't do that -- I would love you to email me your feedback and I will share it on your behalf - email: fiona@sunbirdkitchen.com

 

Can I make hot porridge with the overnight oat mix?

I have tried it and iin my opinion t’s not the best!

The overnight oat mixes are really designed to work with cold milk.

Having said this, a few customers have shared with me that they add hot milk and they LOVE IT!  So, give it a go, you might be pleasantly surprised!

 

Do you sell in bulk?

Yes indeed!  I offer both the granolas and the overnight oat mixes in bulk packaging. Please email sales@sunbirdkitchen.com for more information. If you are major munchers or wish to use it in your own business, I would love to supply you.

 

Is your packaging environmentally friendly?

I literally spent days down a rabbit hole when researching the right packaging – it’s a minefield and not as straightforward as we would all like. I eventually chose to use recyclable pouches and recyclable labels. So – the pouches can be recycled with your local household recycling.

If the business grows sufficiently I can opt for pre-printed bags which can be biodegradable / home compostable, but I am nowhere near the volumes needed for this at present. Please keep buying Sunbird products so that we can switch to pre printed bags!

 

How can I dispose of the packaging?

With your household recycling.

 

Why do your products cost more than those sold in large supermarket?

It’s all down to the quality of the ingredients used and economies of scale.

The granolas have a high nut and seed content, these are spendy ingredients! – if you’d like to compare the nut and seed content of Sunbird granolas with some supermarket granolas there is a summary table in the website. There is also an added cost when buying organic ingredients. This together with the fact Sunbird is a small business, with all products being made by hand in small batches, means that I just cannot compete with the big boys on price. I hope your will agree the quality of Sunbird products is far better than the supermarket equivalents!

 

How long will it take to receive my order?

I bake and pack twice a week. I send out orders twice a week. The baking and packing days will vary – but my promise to you is to make sure you will receive your package within 1 week of your order.

The online shop is open 24 hours a day – so you can order anytime. If for any reason there is a delay with baking, packing and shipping – this will be communicated clearly on the landing page of the website.

 

I have lost my confirmation email / I didn’t receive a confirmation email.

First thing - please check your junk / spam folder to make sure the email hasn’t been delivered there.

If you can’t find the email or have lost it please get in touch at sales@sunbirdkitchen.com and I will be happy to help.

 

I am not happy with my order – what should I do?

I really hope you love your order – but if there is something amiss, please get in touch within 24 hours of receiving you package. I want to fix any issues you might have, 100% customer satisfaction is my aim!

Please quote your full name and order number and give a brief explanation of the situation. If it helps to send a photo – then please do so.

Please email sales@sunbirdkitchen.com

 

My order has not arrived – what should I do?

Please firstly check the tracking number provided on the email sent when your package was despatched. This will give you clarity on where your package is.

All packages require a signature which minimises the risk of not receiving it.

If the package says it's signed for and you have not received it – please check around your home  - just incase the delivery person has left it somewhere.

If you still cannot find it - please email sales@sunbirdkitchen.com. Please quote your full name and order number and I will do my best to resolve this.

 

Can I cancel my order?

Orders can be cancelled before despatch. If you cancel after the package has been posted then cancellations cannot be processed.

To request a cancellation and to check the status of your order please email sales@sunbirdkitchen.com quoting your full name and order number.

 

I have put the wrong address in with my order – how can I fix this?

We can resolve this providing the package has not been despatched. If the package has been posted then apologies but I cannot retrieve it.

To change the delivery address please email sales@sunbirdkitchen.com quoting your full name and order number. I will do my very best to help.

 

How do I contact you?

For a fast response the best way is to email sales@sunbirdkitchen.com

If you have a query about an order then please ensure you include your full name and order number within the email.