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Long time ago when I was young we used to visit the Weigh & Save shop in the precinct down the road. In it were a number of big bins containing everything from beans to corn flakes. You scooped what you needed into the bags provided, in the quantities you wanted then weighed and paid at the till. I loved it. But then I grew up and moved away and never thought of it until I tried to go plastic free. I realized that this was exactly the kind of shop I needed right now. Of course I would have to provide my own plastic free bags but….enough said. I eagerly returned to the precinct of my youth, Stretford it was, only to find the shop had shut up and gone.

So began the research quest…. and in conclusion, yes such shops still exist but they are bloody hard to track down. They go under a variety of names including Weigh & Save Scoop & Save Weigh House Weigh Inn. The company that supplies the products does not have a list of outlets they deliver to (!) but can help you set up a shop if you are interested. As far as I can tell, these shops operate as individuals. They are extremely idiosyncratic and vary greatly in presentation and range. Some go the whole hog with corperate green and yellow displays and a whole lot of stuff to choose from, others a are little more than a few dusty bins at the back of the shop.

Just a passing thought; I feel that this for want of a better word franchise are marketing themselves all wrong. They are presenting themselves as a way to save money and the whole shop screams budget from the ugly cardboard bins to the scrappy signage. I think they should look at attracting the eco customer by installing better dispensers, promoting waste free shopping and using funkier imagary (see Wholefoods Market for inspiration).

Shops Reviews

Barmouth Good

Bridlington - good.

Brixam (grim but does pet food)

Croydon - great write up by Kake who gives this shop a very good press

Exeter - Devon Weigh CLOSED

Horsham - great write up by Kake

Invernes CLOSED

Kingsmouth Devon Free local delivery – spend £7.50 and we will deliver free – within a 7-mile radius of Kingsbridge. Great for bulk buys. Nice!

Penzance

Whitby NOW CLOSED

Wick - CLOSED

Worthing - closed

Emsworth in Hampshire - Pantry Weigh. Thanks to Emma for this info “There’s a small shop called Pantry Weigh in Emsworth in Hampshire https://www.yell.com/biz/pantry-weigh-emsworth-763392/

More

Loose Food Fill lists all the shops (not just the above) that sell loose, food of the kind that normally comes plastic packaged ie rice, pasta and salt.

REMEMBER

Take your own plastic free bags and refillable pots.

Find more plastic free stuff with the A-Z plastic free index

32 thoughts on “U.K. All over Weigh and Save Shops”

  2. I would like to open a weigh & save in Ireland, how do I go about getting the franchise?

  4. I will certainly support you but not really the best person to ask about opening a shop. there is a link to a facebook group of people who have opened/thinking about opening zero waste shops on the loose food page. they will be far more knowledgeable about the process.

  5. new one opened in Birmingham called Clean Kilo, Gibb Street, in the Digbeth/Deritend area of town next to the Custard Factory. Very clean. Sells eggs, fresh fruit and veg etc. Prices reasonable and none of those awful cardboard bins. They have tap operated dispensers. Prices reasonable, staff very helpful. Take your own containers if possible although they do have some to sell.

  6. Hi.
    I’m in the very (very) early stages of looking into the feasibility of setting up something in Harrogate. May I ask whether you would be willing to be a mentor should I manage to progress beyond my initial interest?
    Many thanks
    Sandra

  7. No. as I say in the post, I found it difficult to source much info about them. I know there is a company that supplies some of the shops but have no contact details. Perhaps you could try to contact one of the shops. Let me know how you get on.

  8. I am interested in starting one of these shops but as of yet no been able to find a supplier. Can you help? Many thanks Sharron

  9. when i was a kid i 34 this year they used to be a shop in Rotherham town. Near Tesco ( the old one ) where my mum worked called Scoop Value. And on in Sheffield town and one in Crystal peaks ( Sheffield ) in the market. As my dad worked across from it.There is none about no more

    i used to love going in getting a bag of sweets looking in the bins and seeing what there was.

    Wish the Government would put the UK back to how it was in the 60s,70s and 80s as i heared some good stuff about the towns all in the UK.

  16. I’m looking for a place to go shopping free from packages in south wales, can anyone help ?

  30. I have the same problem with my butcher so I use one use compostable cornstarch bags. They use them in Modbury plastic free town. They go under the name biobags in Europe. http://plasticisrubbish.wordpress.com/2011/10/11/6322/
    Obvioulsy there are issues with any kind of one use disposable bags but on the plus these are certified compostable i.e. you can grow plants in the mulch they rot down to, yet have the strength of plastic and are water proof - for a while then they start to seep.

  31. There is a chain called Bulk Barn in my city, but they don’t let you bring your own bags. It’s so frustrating since they have an amazing selection from candy, to baking needs, pet food, spices, etc. Apparently it’s against health code to put food in a reusable bag, but it’s fine to dump non-biodegradable plastic bags into landfills…

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