Bulk Buy Buzz

If you’re a fan of bulk food stores – and their deliciously categorized bins of assorted dry goods and snacks – The Richards Group agent Matt Foster has your back.

There’s something undeniably satisfying about roaming the aisles of a perfectly organized bulk food emporium, with rows of ingredients and specialty goods you often can’t find anywhere else. With an 8-year-old aspiring baker at home, Matt Foster has become a regular at these places – constantly on the hunt for the best local purveyors of the best ingredients for his daughter's favourite dishes and treats.

Of course, Toronto offers an incredible (and diverse) food scene, and has no shortage of shops and markets to choose from in the grocery department. Our city, in many ways, thrives on small businesses and boutique brands that offer a unique experience or selection of goods compared to large brands and chains. With this in mind, Matt set out to find the best bulk food purveyors that the East End has to offer, to ensure your pantries remain well stocked this summer.

A major, emerging theme amongst modern bulk food stores is the issue of sustainability. Many of these markets have made it a key part of their brand and mission to fight against waste and help community members make eco-conscious decisions. The Source Bulk Foods, whose Leslieville location is a neighbourhood favourite, offers customers over 450 bulk foods including organic whole foods, cooking liquids and oils, healthy snacks, and sustainable personal and household products. The best part? Everything is packaged and delivered plastic-free, making The Source a zero-waste establishment.

The Source Bulk Foods

1. The Source Bulk Foods

The brand actually originated in Byron Bay, Australia, and now has locations around the world, including locations in both Leslieville and Roncesvalles Village. Their social media accounts and website share delicious, healthy recipes with their community using ingredients sourced from their store. Toronto owner, Charles Peronnin, often speaks to his passion for food, and educating consumers on where their food originates from.

Bare Market

2. Bare Market

Bare Market was Toronto’s first one-stop, plastic-free shop for package-free goods, offering our city an incredible selection of locally grown and sourced produce, dry goods, oils and vinegars, and more. Bare Market places an emphasis on keeping quality goods and ingredients affordable and local, empowering Torontonians to shop in a way that is good for the planet. Their mission is simple but undeniably impactful: to make sustainable and ethical living easy and accessible for everyone, everywhere.

Essential oils? They’ve got ’em. Laundry detergent? Yup, they’ve got it. From bamboo toothbrushes to eco-friendly toys, DIY ingredients, dairy/vegan food alternatives, and ready-to-go prepared foods, Bare Market has a little bit of everything. They also work with The Eco Well to review the claims and ingredients of every single body care product and home cleaner they source to ensure they are safe for their customers and safe for the planet. If you can’t make it into the store, Bare Market also offers Canada-wide shipping and delivery!

Moberly Natural Foods

3. Moberly Natural Foods

Moberly Natural Foods is a natural foods grocery store located at 2044 Danforth Ave. in Toronto. Considered one of Toronto’s most beloved, friendly neighbourhood health food stores, Moberly Natural Foods is family-owned and offers a wide selection of organic bulk foods, produce, dairy, vitamins and supplements, natural household products, and more.

Moberly is known for their friendly and helpful staff (always chock-full of recommendations and knowledge) and great selection of goods. Oh, and customers also rave about their gluten-free goodies, if you’re feeling snackish.

Urban Bulk & Refill

4. Urban Bulk & Refill

Rounding out our list is Urban Bulk & Refill, another Leslieville favourite, which stocks grocery and party items, household cleaners, personal care products, and more (all in bulk, of course). Originally, the store was known as Urban Bulk Emporium, and was opened as the continuation of a family bulk food legacy (the owner is the third generation in her family to run a bulk food business). Now, Urban Bulk & Refill is a neighbourhood staple, known for its great selection, quality, and (extremely competitive) prices.

Much like the other stores on our list, Urban Bulk & Refill is manned by incredible, knowledgeable staff members that always greet customers with an easy smile and a list of recommendations (be sure to try their vegan cheese). Acting as Lesliville’s zero-waste grocery hub, customers can shop sustainably (the store’s owner calls this “low-impact living”) by coming back to the store whenever they need refills on products. Urban Bulk & Refill also offers online ordering for in-store or curbside pickup.

Connect with Matt today. C 416.720.0024 mattfoster@therichardsgroup.ca