Bulk shopping at Luminate: bring a container, fill what you need

A little spice for one recipe, oats for the week, or a top-up of something you use every day. Bulk shopping lets you bring home the amount you actually want. Bring a clean container, weigh it empty, then fill it. We subtract the container’s weight at checkout so you only pay for the product inside.

What’s on your refill list?

Start with the cupboard, the tea tin or the bottle that’s nearly empty. Browse our bulk and zero-waste categories online to see the listed selection, sizes and availability before you visit.

A little pantry top-up

Oats for tomorrow’s breakfast. Lentils for a pot of soup. Browse grains, legumes, nuts, seeds and baking ingredients, then make a list of what you actually need.

Browse bulk foods →

Something new for dinner

Trying a recipe that calls for a spice you rarely use? Start here. Browse herbs, spices and seasoning blends before bringing your jars along.

Browse herbs & spices →

Your next favourite cup

Bring your tea tin back into rotation. Explore loose-leaf teas and the coffee-and-tea collection, and check individual listings for ingredients and online sizes.

Browse coffee & tea →

Want a look around first? Watch Emma’s bulk-shopping walkthrough, from pantry ingredients and loose tea to household and body-care refills. Our bulk and refill department page has more to explore.

How to shop with your own container

1. Bring any clean container you’d like to use. A jar, tub or bag can come along for the shop. Pick something suitable for the product and the journey home.
2. Weigh the empty container yourself. Do this before adding your product. That empty-container weight is the tare. If it’s your first visit, ask us to show you the scale and how to keep the weight with your container.
3. Add as much or as little as you want. You don’t have to buy in 100 g increments. A small amount for one recipe is fine, and so is a larger top-up for the pantry. Keep track of what you’ve filled so checkout is straightforward.
4. Bring it to checkout. We take the container’s weight off the filled weight and charge you for the product you’ve added.

Our refill how-to post shows the approach we started with. For today’s visit, follow the steps above and ask us how to keep the product details with your container.

For example, if your empty jar weighs 200 g and the filled jar weighs 350 g, you’re buying 150 g of product. You’re not paying for your jar again.

A short list for your first visit

• Your clean containers
• A list of the ingredients you need
• The recipe, if you’re shopping for something new
• A bag to carry everything home

You don’t need a matching set of pantry jars. A clean yogurt tub or pasta sauce jar can come back for another shop. We’ve shared a few familiar examples in our bring-your-own-container reel. Use what you have, with enough room for what you want to buy. A secure lid or closure makes the trip home easier. For liquids, ask which containers suit the product before filling.

Make the next trip easy on yourself, too. Once a container is empty and clean, pop it beside your shopping bag. Our find-your-refill-system post is all about finding a small habit that works for you.

Check what’s already in the cupboard first. Buying a little less of a spice you rarely use can be more helpful than bringing home another full jar. Leave yourself a way to identify each product when you get home, along with any storage or cooking instructions you’ll need.

Pick one thing you already use

You don’t have to change the whole cupboard in one shop. That’s been a thread through our refill posts from the beginning. Pick something that’s running low:

• For the pantry: start with organic rolled oats for breakfast or organic split red lentils for a soup or dal. Bring a suitable container and buy the amount your recipe needs. Keep the product’s preparation and storage information with it.
• For the kitchen or laundry: bring a suitable clean container for a dish-soap, laundry-detergent or multipurpose-cleaner refill. Prefer dishwasher tabs? The Unscented Company’s bulk dishwasher tabs are listed individually, rather than by weight. Check the current product’s directions and keep everything clearly labelled.
• For the bathroom: have a look at Oneka Angelica & Lavender Conditioner bulk refill or Carina Organics Sweet Pea Body Wash in bulk. Check the available formula and scent before filling, especially if you’re topping up a familiar container.

Our tea-tin refill post and Pure laundry refill post show two everyday places to begin. They’re older posts, so check today’s selection and prices in store.

A little label reading still matters

Read the bin or product information before filling, including ingredients and any allergen notes. Organic describes how a product is produced; it doesn’t tell you whether it meets your allergy or gluten-free requirements.

If cross-contact matters for you, ask about the specific product and how it’s handled before buying. Don’t assume a bulk bin is suitable because the ingredient itself is naturally gluten-free. If you can’t establish that a product meets your needs, a sealed product with suitable labelling may be a more practical choice.

Can I shop bulk online?

Some bulk products are listed online in set weights. Check the size or weight on the individual product page and the pickup or delivery options offered for your basket. The online pack size is separate from in-store shopping, where you can add any amount to your own container.

For delivery details, see Luminate Express and our shipping and returns information. Our returns policy lists bulk products as final sale, so check the product and quantity before placing your order.

Bring your containers and come see us

You’ll find our stores at 486 Starboard Drive in Bedford and 590 Portland Street in Dartmouth. Check the store pages for current hours and directions. After a particular ingredient or liquid refill? Check with that store before making a special trip.

And if it’s your first bulk shop, tell us. We can help you get your bearings before you fill.

Quick questions

Do I have to buy 100 g?

No. In store, you can add any amount you wish. We charge for the weight of the product you’ve added after subtracting your container’s weight.

Who weighs my empty container?

You weigh it yourself before filling. Ask us for help finding and using the scale if you need it.

Can I bring a container I already own?

Yes. Bring any clean container you’d like to use, and make sure it suits the product you’re putting in it.