Bulk food shopping in Halifax: how our all-organic refillery works

If you are looking for a bulk food store in Halifax, here is the short version: we have two, every bin in them is certified organic, and you can bring whatever container you like. The Dartmouth store on Portland Street holds the largest all-organic bulk station in Atlantic Canada. The Bedford store has the original, smaller and just as well stocked on the essentials.

What is in the bins

More than 150 items: grains, flours, legumes, nuts, seeds, dried fruit, herbs and spices, coffee, tea, superfood powders and pantry staples. All of it organic, none of it packaged. Because every bin is certified organic, there is nothing to compare or read twice; you just scoop.

Alongside the food, the zero-waste section carries refillable soap, shampoo and conditioner bars, household cleaners and more than fifty refillable containers, so a whole bathroom and laundry cupboard can go package-free too. The full department is at Bulk and refill, with 700-odd products you can also order online.

How to shop bulk here

1. Bring a container. A jar, a yogurt tub, a cloth bag. Anything clean with a lid works. If you forget, we have jars and bags at the station.
2. Tare it at the counter. We weigh your empty container and mark the weight so you only pay for what goes in.
3. Fill what you need. A tablespoon of cardamom for one recipe or a kilo of oats for the month. Nothing goes stale at the back of a cupboard because you bought the size the bag came in.
4. Pay by weight. The price per 100 g is on every bin.

Why we went all organic

Most bulk sections mix organic and conventional, and the labels are small. Ours does not, so the question never comes up. It also means the same standard applies whether you are buying a snack for the car or flour for a week of baking.

Which store should I go to?

For range, Dartmouth. It was built with the bulk station as the centrepiece and has more room. For a quick top-up of staples, either store will have what you came for. Both are open seven days: Monday to Friday 8:30 am to 8:30 pm, Saturday and Sunday 9 am to 6 pm.

Can I get bulk delivered?

Yes. Order from the bulk department online and Luminate Express brings it the same day across Halifax, Bedford and Dartmouth when you order by 11 am. Online bulk comes pre-weighed in our packaging; the bring-your-own-container part is an in-store thing.

Where are the stores?

Bedford: 486 Starboard Drive. Dartmouth: 590 Portland Street, at the corner of Portland Street and Baker Drive. Directions and hours are on Our stores.