Did you know we throw away roughly 12 million tonnes of packaging a year in the UK? As more of us become aware of the damaging impact of packaging, particularly non-recyclable plastic, refill stores have popped up to help us shop waste-free. But they’re not a new concept: long-standing stores like Eat Whole Foods have been at the heart of the community for almost half a century.
As well as operating a bricks-and-mortar shop at 117 Hatfield Road in St Albans, Eat Whole Foods is a mainstay of the Harpenden Sustainability Market. From almonds to apricots, shampoo to spices, and cous cous to chamomile tea, you can find hundreds of healthy options.
The shop opened nearly 45 years ago, primarily as a health food store. It’s now run by Manish, who took over the reins five years ago, aided by a small team of locals and students. Manish says, ‘We want to make a positive impact on society, both locally and across the UK, by providing healthy food.’
Refill items available in bulk
You’ll find a treasure trove of nuts and seeds in every size, organic muesli and porridge oats, herbal teas like chamomile and hibiscus and even raw honey from the nearby Ashridge Estate. Although the refill option isn’t available at the market, you can find all items loose for you to scoop, weigh, and refill your own containers in the shop.
Manish says, ‘One lady told us she’s been refilling the same washing-up liquid bottle for 10 years! Imagine how many bottles she’s saved from going to waste.’ 10 to 15 customers come in for refills every day, so if you scale that up annually, it equates to around 3,000 bottles saved.
Can’t get to the market or the shop? Delivery is free on orders over £40 within a 5-mile radius of St Albans and Harpenden, while nationwide delivery is free on orders over £60.
Eat Whole Foods’ top eco tip
Manish’s top eco tip? ‘Refill and reuse. Even cardboard uses trees and energy. If a container is broken, then of course, replace it. But if you can use the same container 10 times, that’s nine you’ve saved from waste.’
Eat Whole Foods will be back at the sustainability market on the 21st of September 2025. Until then, you can pop into the shop on 117 Hatfield Road, St Albans. Or you can get in touch through their website, Instagram and Facebook page.
Join us at the next Sustainability Market on Sunday the 21st of September to discover other local eco and food stalls that promote a more sustainable lifestyle. Visit our markets page for the full schedule of dates.