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Bulk buy or refill stores are places you can buy all kinds of food like rice, suet, even soup mix - loose and unpackaged.
You take as much as you want/need from a larger container, weigh and pay.
You can usually use your own packaging.
The advantages for the #plasticfree shopper hardly need stating!
These are common in America and Australia, far less so in the U.K. But we do have some.
I have put together a list of stores that sell loose products, listed alphabetically by the location / place name.
If you know of others please add them, with as many details as possible, in the comments box below and I will incorperperate them.

Packaging

While these shops provide bags and they are almost always plastic ones. You will need to take your own plastic-free /reusable bags, tubs and bottles.

Tare

The weight of the container may make a difference at checkout. Some shops  subtract the tare weight but other don’t. The tare weight is the weight of the empty container.

Latest Loose Food Shop

from Twitter

Popped to the fantastically named @weighahead in Dunblane, a new #zerowaste shop near #Stirling. Highlights were finding packaging-free bar soap and stocking up on staples without any single-use plastic. We’ll be back! 

Jarfull Ltd

“Our shop all being well will be open sometime in the first couple of weeks of December. We will announce the confirmed date when we have done a little more decorating so please follow our social media pages to keep informed. “From their website

@jarfulluk

2 Bower Street, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, HG1 5BQ

Heard of one in Chapel Allerton. will be checking that out later.

A to Z of Refill Shops


A
Aberdeen
Aberdeen has a foodstory shop(/vegan café) which offers a wide variety of unpackaged food and other household items
Aberystwith
B
Barmouth
Barnsley
Bath
“Bath store – NewLeaf HealthFoods, 29 Shaftesbury Road, Bath, BA2 3LJ
Happy to preweigh your container with what you are going to fill it with. Bulk bins of nuts, flour, sugar, grains, dried fruit and more. Loose herbs and spices. Ecover refills.”

Berkhamsted Herts
Clean Earth Pantry in Berkhamsted Herts. Monthly market stall with whole foods, household liquid refills and reusable items x

Bath - more stores here.
Brighton
Bridlington
Brixam
Bristol

Burley in Wharfedale “Waste Not The Grange, Station Road, Burley in Wharfedale, LS29 7ND, UK
do shampoo refills as well as lots of other stuff. more details here“

Buxton 18.1 Day Zero in Buxton. A great little family run refill shop. Very friendly and helpful in giving advice on how to make changes. Also responds to the customer to try and source plastic free products should there be a request for it.

C

Camarthen
“There’s the ‘green scoop’ in Camarthen
http://www.thegreenscoop.com
9 Hall Street, Carmarthen, SA31 1PH”

Cardiff
Cardiff- Ripple in Roath. Zero waste shop

Chichester
Chichester has Refilled Chichester at Drapers Yard, The Hornets. Drapers Yard also has other plastic free friendly shops including Zest for Taste which does oil and vinegar refills and Bear Boy Fresh with local organic veg and a milk refill station .

Cleethorpes
Spill the Beans St Peter’s Avenue #cleethorpes now have paper bags out as an alternative to plastic. If you’ve not been here PLEASE check if out! Loads of fab whole foods plus cereals Baking stuff and more #cleethorpes #discovernel #totallylocallyne

D

Dundee
Little Green Larder opened in Dundee today

E

East Wittering
Nearby in East Wittering health shop Mind Body Medicalhas a refill section

Edinburgh
Emsworth

G
Glasgow Locavore
Glossop

H
Horsham
Huddersfield
Hull
Hythe

I, J K
Kingsmouth
Kingsmouth Devon Free local delivery – spend £7.50 and we will deliver free – within a 7-mile radius of Kingsbridge. Great for bulk buys. Good review here.
Kingston

L
Liverpool
Lincoln

Leeds read a review here.

Leicester
https://zerowasteleicester.co.uk/ for Leicester

Leigh-on-Sea, Essex
“Leigh-on-Sea, Essex has The Refill Room which has been running for 6 months. All the bottles, jars etc are glass in case you forget to bring your own ( or don’t bring enough !). All the usual dry goods plus housecleaning and toiletries are available. They also have a website – link below:
The Refill Room
15 Elm Road
Leigh-on-Sea
Essex
SS9 1SW
https://www.refillroom.com/
“

London read a reveiw here

Please add Naked Larder in Herne Hill, South London SE24 9QP to your list. http://www.nakedlarder.co.uk
Many thanks, Phil

I have just discovered this shop has recently opened….
Get Loose @ Hackney City Farm – 100% Organic Pastas, Grains, Pulses, Cereals, Milk and alternative Mylks (in refillable/returnable glass bottles), Nuts, Cheeses (in compostable wrapping), Chocolates, Dried Fruits and lots more.
The shop is a social enterprise and growing its produce selection week on week.
Hackney City farm (just inside the gates on the right), 1a Goldsmiths Row, E2 8QA
Open; Wed 17:30 – 20:00, Thurs 16:30 – 19:30, Fri 10:00 – 18:00, Sat & Sun 10:00 – 16:30
On Twitter @GetLooseFoods

Leeds read a review here.

M
Manchester

N
Northampton Market
Newcastle Emlyn


O
Oxford

P
Penzance
Plymouth
Peterborough

Q

R

Ramsbottom

S
Sheffield
Southhampton (possibly)
Swansea (possibly)

T
Thatcham
Can you please add Thatcham Refillable to the list. We are in Thatcham near Newbury in Berkshire.
http://www.thatchamrefillable.co.uk
We sell refill household cleaning & personal care products daily and we hold a monthly market where we have stall holders selling dried food and other eco products from our shop.

Tiverton
Todmorden
Totnes

W
Plastic Free Places that start with the letter W can be found here
Including
Watford
Wimborne
Winscombe
Worcester

XYZ
York

A to Z

Frozen Food Loose
Pain Au Chocolat - home bake Pain Au Raisen - Home Bake Yorkshire Puds Fruits of the forest and other soft fruits Roast veg - peppers to potatoes Uncooked Vegetables ...
Read More
Lidles
Lidles is a chain of budget supermarkets. It offers some plastic free surprises. (Click the links to see a review and other options). Take your own bags Lidl Stiftung & ...
Read More
Oil Vegetable Cooking Refill
Vegetable oil is difficult to source plastic free. Buy in glass and the metal caps will have a little plasticized disc or plastic liner on inside and maybe a plastic seal ...
Read More
Tea & Coffee Merchants
Here are some independent Tea & Coffe merchants. You may need to take your own bags Leeds The Teapot has coffee beans and leaf tea from all round the world. Really lovely ...
Read More
The Range - a chain of home & garden shops
Loose pet food, home wares and some loose sweets. Being committed to local shopping, I prefer to buy that way whenever possible. I would encourage you to do the same ...
Read More
U.K. All over Weigh and Save Shops
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 ...
Read More

U.K. Wide

.

Other Supermarkets & Chainstores
Sometimes supermarkets can surprise you - check out the plastic-free and reduced packaging products here.

Remember
While these shops provide bags and they are almost always plastic ones. You will need to take your own. 

Find A Milk Delivery Service With Glass Bottles

Here 

 

Online


This is an interesting option that allows you to buy basic foods on line plastic free.
You can even use your own produce bags. Read more
HERE

Ask A Local

A great source of info is the Plastic Is Rubbish FB support group. We have people everywhere who,are ready to help. Join up join in.

Please add any shops you know of in the comments below and I will incorporate them into the post.
Links to reviews particularly welcome.

  • N.B.
    lines changes, products get removed. For more information why not ask the Plastic Is Rubbish FB group for updates. They are a great source of tidbits, personal experience and the latest news. Why not join them and share the plastic free love x
Join our Facebook group here

And before you go…

If you have found the #plasticfree information useful, please consider supporting us. It all goes to financing the project (read more here) or

Buy Me a Coffee at ko-fi.com

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84 thoughts on “Refill/Bulk/Zerowaste Stores”

  1. Hello!

    What a fantastic list of refill shops, so good to see it grow! ANd what a GREAT WEBSITE!!
    We just set up a refill shop in Winslow, Buckinghamshire - its called The Rolling Oats - A Mobile Refill Shop! We pop to local markets and villages bringing plastic free shopping to them!
    We would love to be added to your list please!
    We stock a growing variety of Organic & Non Organic Dried Foods, Environmentally Friendly Cleaning Products and Plastic Free Toiletries. Our aim is to make refill shopping easy, accessible and affordable.

    We have a few reviews on our Facebook page if you fancy taking a look and 5 stars on Google.
    Our website is: http://www.therollingoats.com
    Our email is: [email protected]
    Our phone number is: 07402 800 499 if you fancy a chat!

    Please feel free to contact us if you want any more information,
    Millery

  2. Bury St Edmunds
    “Clear to Sea”
    1 St Johns House, St Johns Street, Bury Saint Edmunds IP33 1SJ
    A low waste shop offering unpackaged food and goods to help reduce mindless packaging.

  16. Hi

    Leigh-on-Sea, Essex has The Refill Room which has been running for 6 months. All the bottles, jars etc are glass in case you forget to bring your own ( or don’t bring enough !). All the usual dry goods plus housecleaning and toiletries are available. They also have a website - link below:

    The Refill Room
    15 Elm Road
    Leigh-on-Sea
    Essex
    SS9 1SW

    https://www.refillroom.com/

  17. Pack It In - Zero Waste Living in Worcester
    Pack It In
    Unit 7,8,9
    The Gallery
    (The Old Market Hall)
    The Shambles
    Worcester
    WR1 2RD

  18. Chichester has Refilled Chichester at Drapers Yard, The Hornets. Drapers Yard also has other plastic free friendly shops including Zest for Taste which does oil and vinegar refills and Bear Boy Fresh with local organic veg and a milk refill station . Nearby in East Wittering health shop Mind Body Medicalhas a refill section.

  19. Clean Earth Pantry in Berkhamsted Herts. Monthly market stall with whole foods, household liquid refills and reusable items x

  24. There is a wonderful little shop called Scoop and Spice, in Winscombe (a little village) in North Somerset. I think it still also has another shop in Yatton (a commuter village in North Somerset). You can take your own containers, or they provide paper or plastic bags. They have all the basics (rice, pulses, nuts, herbs, muesli, oats, dried fruit, pasta) and coffee beans. They also do Ecover refills. And I was delighted to be able to buy dark chocolate coated brazil nuts (and other yummies) in a paper bag the other day! They also sell cardboard deodorant sticks, loose soaps, shampoo bars. They are increasing their range all the time and it is an absolutely amazing place, notwithstanding it is a small shop in a small village. It is family-owned and they are lovely people. Definitely worth supporting.

  25. Hi there.
    Can you please add Thatcham Refillable to the list. We are in Thatcham near Newbury in Berkshire.
    http://www.thatchamrefillable.co.uk
    We sell refill household cleaning & personal care products daily and we hold a monthly market where we have stall holders selling dried food and other eco products from our shop.

  26. Bishy weigh, Bishopthorpe rd, YORK sell loose foods, plastic free containers, cleaning products, locally made shampoo bars & soaps.
    Friendly, helpful staff too.
    Also collect recyclables that the council won’t 👍👍

  31. I’ve used the details you’ve collected above, and from various other places, to create a map of zero-waste friendly shops in the UK. Hope it’s useful.

  33. THE REFILL PANTRY in St Albans Hertfordshire sells loose food from pasta, rice and lentils to wasabi peas and gluten free porridge. Liquid refills range from local rapeseed oil to cleaning products and shampoos. Bring your own containers or use one of ours.
    http://www.therefillpantry.co.uk.
    Plastic free shopping in Hertfordshire.

  37. Locavore - Victoria Road, Govanhill, Glasgow.
    http://glasgowlocavore.org/

    All sorts of loose dry goods. Refills for shampoo, conditioner, soap, washing up liquid etc. Refills for oil, vinegar, etc. A milk machine to refill your glass milk bottle. ! (I think it’s the first in Scotland.)

    Also sells lots of locally grown and produced products. Plus has an awesome little cafe with a good selection of vegan cakes. And veg box deliveries.

  40. Save A Packet: http://www.saveapacket.org.uk
    8 The Anchor Centre, Bridge Street, Kingsbridge, TQ7 1SB
    Blog post about our visit to ‘Save A Packet’ and ‘Weigh Inn’ (Penzance) https://ourrubbishblog.wordpress.com/2018/05/03/the-incredible-bulk-stores/

    Ethica: http://www.facebook.com/EthicaVeganStore/
    155 Armada Way, Plymouth, PL1 1HY
    Refills for detergent, shampoo, washing up liquid etc; soap bars, non-plastic toiletries, cleaning items
    Blog post includes trip to Ethica https://ourrubbishblog.wordpress.com/2018/04/07/a-clean-break/

  43. The Health Warehouse in Darlington have Ecover dispensers and offer a discount when you refill your bottles.

  45. Hi ! Please add Plaw Hatch Farm and Tablehurst Farm in and near Forest Row , East Sussex . They are sister farms , biodynamic and most importantly most of the food sold is loose . Brown paper bags everywhere , as well as cardboard boxes . Plaw Hatch has a return milk bottle scheme !

  47. An excellent health food shop is Swindon pulse. They sell nuts, seeds, tea, coffee, loose. I’m very excited to visit next Tuesday!

  49. Hi I’d love to be included in your database. My shop is The Phoenix Green Store On Etsy and I make zero waste textiles solutions from recycled materials. So family cloth packs, cloth hankies, beeswax wraps, cloth produce bags. I’m based in Newcastle upon Tyne and I’m committed to keeping my prices affordable so that going plastic free doesn’t cost the earth. Email me at [email protected] if you need more info. Thankyou!

  50. I’ve just discovered that the organic health food shop Wild Honey in Oxford has a small selection of dry bulk goods, including rice, nuts, seeds and grains. They are very happy for you to bring your own container.

  52. Locavore in Glasgow is another one for your list. Grows and sells its own locally grown vegetables and can buy grains, rice, pasta, etc in your own container. 66 Nithsdale Road, Glasgow, G41 2AN http://glasgowlocavore.org/

    Harvest Co-op is another place in Glasgow where you can bring your own containers to buy in bulk. 1143 Pollokshaws Road, Glasgow, G41 3YH http://www.harvestco-op.com/

  58. Gaia Wholefoods in Lincoln
    Central Market
    Lincoln, Lincolnshire

    07891 370197
    Nicola, the proprietor sells whole food that she bags up but is willing to weigh out into your own containers if you give her enough notice.

  62. Hi, I’m not sure if you know this already, but there is a shop called Harvest in Walcot Street, Bath that sell loose nuts, grains, pulses etc. Hope this helps.

  64. Hi! So there is a True Food Coop local to Reading, Berkshire. It is actually in Emmer Green but is has bulk organic food and is run by the local community (it always needs volunteers). I get things from Past, Rice, oats, raisens, nuts and other dried pulses all from bulk bins in my own containers there. Additionally in Thatcham, Berkshire a butcher called Cook and Butcher takes orders by email and then keeps everything package free for us to come collect in our containers. He is always lovely and understanding. He also has loose veggies and bottled local beers. I think none of his meat comes from further than 15 miles away from his shop - so very local! Thanks for adding these. xx Michelle

  66. In edinburgh we have The new leaf co-op that offers a wide variety of stuff package free. Bulk stuff includes washing up liquid ontap, laundry liquid on tap, hair care, loads of spices, flour, müsli, beans & pulss, grains, rice, dred fruit, nuts, seeds, vinega, oil, soy sauce and much more. It’s an incredible place!

  67. Ignore? How do you suggest I source shops apart from seeing them myself, asking others to contribute, documenting their suggestions, unning various social media sites asking for contributions and contacting the main bulk suppliers.

    Perhaps you are unaware that I am doing this in a voluntary capacity. Sadly I don’t get paid to travel the country sourcing bulk food shops. And I do this in my spare time which does limit how many places I can visit. Perhaps if it was a paid job I could be more comprehensive.

    But you see and here is the thing - you really don’t know how many places I have visited because I can only list loose food shops that actually do exist. The reason many places are not listed is because there are no loose food shops. Which is the point of the post. I am not ignoring them, THEY ARE NOT THERE. They are a rare breed. Which is why am trying to put a list together of the ones that do exist. If there was a shop in every town I would hardly need to do this would I?

    As far as I know there are supermarkets in Ireland and they do sell food loose. Though no they are not brilliant on loose food.Again that is rather the point.

    Instead of using U.K. for the weigh and save list I could use England, Scotland & Wales but because the list is organised alphabetically I would prefer that no weighting was given to one area. I stand by that decision though I do feel your pain when you clicked through only to find nothing for Ireland.

    And if you have a more comprehensive list then do share it. This is a group activity.

  68. It would be nice if you ventured a little further afield - you say the UK but apart from supermarkets (not brilliant on loose food), two towns in Wales and Whole Foods in Glasgow you totally ignore Wales apart from Barmouth and Aberystwyth, most of Scotland, northern England apart from Yorkshire and Northern Ireland does not even get a mention. If you are going to restrict yourself to your own travels, fine - but don’t then talk about the UK

  70. Alan’s Naturally. in Hull, sells nuts, pulses,seeds, porridge oats, spices and other goods loose. They will put the spices in small polythene bags, but will use paper bags if you ask them to.

  72. Steve’s Wholefoods, Chelmsford Retail Market

    Lathcoats Farm Shop, Beehive Lane, Great Baddow, Chelmsford

  81. The Real Food Shop in Alsager and Demeter Whole Foods in Sandbach (both in South Cheshire) sell pulses, rice, nuts, dried fruit, herbs and spices and many other dried goods packed in cellulose which can go on the compost heap.

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