Back in 2018, soon after Blue Planet first showed on TV, we got to notice a whole load of zero waste & refill stores opening their doors. The nearest one to open near to where I was living was The Source Bulk Foods store, on Turnham Green Terrace (nice aptronym) in Chiswick.
West London welcomed the first store with open arms and we surely did too. I’d take my son on morning walks to pick up refills back when he was in the buggy (which made for a good shopping trolley). Afterwards, we’d visit the grocer opposite and make sure to spend time looking through old books at Fosters on the High Street. It was a good rhythm. Turning up with empties. Leaving fully loaded. We’d fill granola, nuts or dried fruits into jars or paper bags (if we didn’t bring enough). Back then, the chocolate raisins would all be for me. I got hooked on the delicate effervescence of Kitty’s Kombucha, brewed in Twickenham, flowing and fizzing from the tap at the front of the shop. This grew into a full-blown addiction and I’d keep searching out bigger bottles from home. Hibiscus was the one. We moved out of London during the pandemic but I still have fond memories of shopping at The Source. Naturally, I made sure to let them know about Fill and what we were doing and if there could be a way we could work together. And, when the time was right, we started working together. Slowly at first, working things out as we went. Nowadays, we’re delighted to be a supplier to all The Source stores across London.
It’s a cool place, run by good people. It’s not just about refilling. It’s about calmer, conscious and considered choices. It’s about reconnecting; with cleaner & healthier essentials, good food, better habits, with each other and with the choices we all make every day. With over 500 unpackaged goods, there’s a lot of reasons to go direct to The Source.
It’s been wonderful to see them steadily build a permanent presence in more and more neighbourhoods around the UK and so we figured it was a good time to check in with the Managing Director, Makayla Drummond to find out more about their plans to bring healthy plastic-free shopping to even more people. She chats to us about how she got started, why shopping mindfully matters plus schnauzers, coffee and grapes.
Single Use Is Over!
HOW DID YOU WIND UP DOING WHAT YOU DO?
It was 2017 and having built a career first as an Accountant, then working in International Development, including several overseas postings, I was looking for a new challenge. My husband and I had gone through a whole minimalism phase which led us to question what we bought and, in turn, our waste. We started shopping plastic-free but the options were very limited and dispersed around London; so we started to think what if we did this ourselves.
WHY IS THE SOURCE A COOL PLACE TO BE?
Our stores are an oasis in a bustling high street. When a customer steps into a Source store, they visibly exhale and slow down. From the way the stores are laid out, the products presented in a way that is clearly visible in all their natural unpackaged glory, to the information on our product labels – it’s all about creating an experience for our customers where they can shop mindfully, connect with the food they are buying, and enjoy plastic-free shopping.
WHAT’S ON THE HORIZON?
More of what we do best, which is continuing to provide our customers with both a broad range of high-quality, plastic-free foods and lifestyle products – like Fill cleaning products. And if we’re lucky, maybe open another shop or two down the line.
WHAT MADE YOU CHOOSE TO REUSE?
Buying food covered in plastic when there are other options seemed so unnecessary. For us, reusing just feels right, and we get a kick out of knowing we can help other people feel good about their shopping choices.
WHAT DO YOU REFILL?
As much as we can, our stores have over 500 products. So whether it’s items from our pantry, oils, nut butters, cleaning products, herbs, spices and of course chocolate and snacks – we’re refilling it.
WHY FILL REFILL?
Very few suppliers align with our values like Fill does. We’re very proud to stock and partner with a company that has at its core the impact they have on both the environment and human health. And of course, we love that they are a closed-loop supplier. If only more companies were like Fill Refill!
COOLEST OTHER REFILLABLE?
Take your pick. I think our protein powders are a unique refill, plus some of our granolas and cereals. And of course our huge range of chocolates and snacks, which is quite rare to be able to buy them plastic-free, given their quality.
HARDEST THING TO FIND WITHOUT PACKAGING?
Fresh produce, but especially grapes……I love grapes. A lot.
HOW DO YOU ESCAPE?
Walking my two miniature schnauzer doggos while listening to a podcast or going to the gym.
BEST MOMENT
Hiking in Patagonia to the Fitzroy.
RECOMMEND SOMETHING
Try to change one thing a month. Slow and steady wins the race when it comes to making changes.
ONE PLACE WE SHOULD GO SEE
Fjords of Norway are high on my list, as is Patagonia.
THINGS YOU COULDN’T LIVE WITHOUT
Coffee. My dogs.
LAST SONG YOU CHOSE TO LISTEN TO
Unstoppable by Sia.
