The Refillery Has Arrived!
Taking care of our beautiful planet has never been easier thanks to The Refillery and their amazing store concept. They, too, are truly concerned about keeping our home plastic pollution-free, which is why they want to try to help in their own small way.
This new planet-friendly grocer offers shoppers a stylish, convenient, plastic-free, weigh-and-pay shopping experience that's nothing like your usual grocery stores. Here, you can stock and re-stock your pantry with the highest quality, ethically-sourced products WITHOUT the wasteful (and harmful) packaging. We like to think of it as going green with our shopping.
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The Problem & The Solution
There is a growing worldwide awareness and concern regarding the impact of uncontrolled use of non-biodegradable, single-use plastic packaging. Recently, the Source To Sea initiative was launched to try combat plastic pollution around our country’s coastline. In case you didn't know, the Great Pacific Garbage Patch is estimated to cover an area larger than South Africa and Zimbabwe combined. 94% of South Africa's beach litter is made from plastic, 77% of which is packaging. That's a scary thought!
In attempt to combat any further litter to our beaches and country, The Refillery offers a more planet-friendly alternative to your usual grocery store - supplying single-use, plastic-free, responsibly sourced, refillable, everyday products for package-less pantries and households. Wow, that's a mouthful! This retail business model is a fast-growing global trend, and has finally made its way to South Africa.
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What To Expect
The Refillery gives shoppers a casual, friendly experience in a simple, modern, old-school-yet-stylish environment that exudes a re-purposed vibe with its natural wood, textured surfaces and polished concrete floors. They make grocery shopping easier for the environmentally-concerned as well as convenience-seeking customers to fill their pantries and play a part in helping to reduce the global plastic pollution crisis. And as for getting your goodies, there is a Home Delivery and Refilling service, plus a Call-and-Collect facility. How convenient!
Right now, the store is solely online, but within the next few months, you can expect an actual, physical, stand-alone store. The very-first store will be opening its doors between March/April 2019. To stay informed with the latest development on this, make sure you sign up to their newsletter so you'll know exactly where and when their grand opening will be.
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What Products Do They Have In Store?
Wondering what goodies you can get your hands on here? Well, don't you worry, we went and scanned through their site and we must say, we're rather impressed with their grocery categories. They aim to source locally where possible and are proud that their store is over 95% local regarding their products. Here, you can get you hands on the following:
- Baking - white and brown sugar, baking powder, Bicarbonate of Soda, etc.
- Beans & Pulses - Black Eye, Kidney, Soya, Chickpea, Mung, etc.
- Cereals - Granola, oats, muesli.
- Dried Fruit - Coconut chips, banana chips, dates, cranberries, mango strips, dried figs, etc.
- Flour - Almond, coconut, maize, chickpea, rice, linseed, rye, sorghum, etc.
- Grains - White Bulgar Wheat, Couscous, Polenta, Pearl Barley, etc.
- Herbs & Spices - Cajun Spice, mixed herbs, paprika, the works!
- Pasta
- Rice - Basmati, Breyani, Risotto, Black, Brown, Low GI.
- Seeds & Nuts - Pumpkin seeds, linseed, Chia seeds, pecan halves, peanuts, etc.
- Snacks & Sweets
- Super Foods - Goji Berries, Organic Hemp Powder, Chia Seeds, Maca Powder, etc.
- Zero Waste Lifestyle
- D.I.Y.
- Household
- Lifestyle
- Personal
- Personal Hygiene
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Are Their Products Organic?
The big question here! Around 75% of their products are organic and they're currently searching for organic replacements and alternatives for the products that aren't organic.
Don't Forget To BYOJ!
In case you didn't get it, BYOJ means Bring Your Own Jar. Once the store opens later this year, don't forget to grab your storage jars/containers/bags to take along with you. But if you're new to this way of living, The Refillery will have recycled brown paper bags for you to use or you can buy a few jars in store.
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For More Information
For more information about this brand-new, planet-friendly grocer, visit their online store at therefillery.co.za.
You can also contact them on [email protected] or 079 860 2069 / 072 177 9311.
Don't forget to give them a follow on Facebook and Instagram.
Freshouse Market
This fresh foods market provides crisp produce, fine cuts of meat and stunning flowers. They make an effort to stock fruit and vegetables that are a little more unusual so there is always a great variety. Their produce is well priced and they are also very active on their Facebook page for any queries, compliments or feedback. Open between 08:00 and 19:00, which is ideal if you need to squeeze in a little shopping after work.
The Green Grocery
This is an online grocer offering not only convenience but delivery too. Their fresh, organic produce is sourced from local farmers, who use no synthetic fertilisers or pesticides. Over and about fresh fruit and veg, you can also find herbs and spices, gluten-free and artisan health bread, dairy, dried fruit, nuts and seeds on their site. They deliver on Thursdays and Fridays but check their website to see when they do your area.
Impala Fruit & Flowers
Found at Lifestyle Crossing in Little Falls, this is one of the largest stores in the franchise. Opened in 2009, they offer fresh produce, choice-cut flowers, as well as nuts, jams and yoghurts. Their flower selection is impressive, particularly in the dry seasons. Apart from their fantastic quality produce, they also have daily specials:
- Tuesday is pensioners day with 10% off fruit and veg, and 20% off cut flowers and pot plants
- Wednesday 20% off fresh-cut flowers
- Thursday offers 10% discount to any gym membership holders
- And every weekend 20% off pot plants
Other Impala stores are in Northcliff and Craighall Park.
Mary’s Country Fruit and Veg
Based in the Cresta area, this little store is always a treat to visit. The staff are friendly and prices on fresh produce are unbeatable. The best part is they often have specials where you can buy in bulk and save. They are a family-owned store and aim to have mostly organic produce but also supply freshly baked cakes and confectionery, created by local moms and bakers in the area — worth trying if you have a sweet tooth.
Freshly Grown
This is another online fresh produce store specialising in organic and whole foods. In addition to fresh produce, dairy, eggs, meat and drinks, they make up boxes for you comprising various veggies for either two or four people. You can also choose salad or meat boxes, perfect for families. Everything is well priced and this solution is ideal if you don’t have time to sift through the site. They also have a bakery section which stocks unusual flours and baking aids, harm-free household products and their own hand and body range. Freshly Grown delivers different orders on different days.
Farm Fresh Online
This is the last online produce store on our list. They offer 100% South African-grown produce and there's no cold chain; the produce comes directly from the farm to your kitchen. Farm Fresh Online also offers farmers boxes of different sizes which include fruit or seasonal vegetables. It's quicker to simply choose a box but if you wish to add any extras, you can select items like honey, free-range eggs, milk and pantry fillers. Check out their site for delivery schedules.
Bryanston Organic and Natural Market
This market is an institution and was Joburg's first organic market. It has a variety of other stalls with jewellery, clothing and bric-a-brac and is open Thursday to Saturday, 09:00 – 15:00. There are two organic fruit and veg stalls inside, the first being Christa’s Corner. Her farm is out past Lanseria, so the market is the best place to get her fresh produce. She also offers micro-greens, sprouts and wheatgrass and is involved in every aspect of the farming process.
The second stall in the market is Wensleydale Farm with their certified organic fruit and vegetables. Established in 1989, they supply many of the large supermarkets. The stall at the market offers a selection of their organic produce but you can also order boxes directly from their website and have them delivered to your house.
Maledi Fresh
Maledi Fresh is a wholly black-owned family business that supplies fresh food products to restaurants, schools, as well as to the public. They are stationed at the Lifestyle Home Garden centre and their products are replenished daily, so you are always sure to get the freshest produce no matter what day of the week you visit. They offer organic and non-organic fruit and vegetables, dairy products and also dry goods.