Today it is easy to go to the store, and end up bringing up many things, even fresh and whole food items, in packaged containers. In an effort to eliminate waste in packagin, in.gredients is a neighborhood microgrocer that sells local food with pure ingredients and without the package. The store describes its mission with this phrase, “Think grocery store in scope, convenience store in scale.”
The store opened in Austin, TX in August 2012 into a 1,300 square feet space where shoppers can buy over 400 products that can be measured out and packaged in their own containers. “We’re a brand new business in more then one way,” Co-Founder Christian Lane said, “We’re a new business in the traditional sense, but we’re also bringing a fresh take on what it means to shop for food.”
The store has also become a venue for events, movie screenings and lectures. in.gredients also offers ready-to-eat foods, beer and wine, and free wi-fi, with outdoor seating and a playground for kids.
in.gredients is one of a few stores that have recently opened up that are providing consumers with the opportunity to purchase the product in quantities that they want, but without the prepackaged goods. Similar stores that have done this include another small grocery store in London called Unpackaged which opened in 2006, and Bulk Barn in Canada that has over 170 stores.
The model is appealing to many shoppers (like me), but I recently read on greenerpackage.com about some of the challenges that this model can present, which includes contamination, mess, and complexity. Having more food in bins can allow for bugs to get into the food, people can be messy when they package their own food, and for some shoppers it might be difficult to weigh a container (to get what is called the tare, or the weight of the container) and go through the packaging process.
I recently checked out in.gredients Facebook page, and they have a year anniversary party planned for August 4th, and recently got some fresh figs in the store from a local farm. Go on and get your bulk on!
Image Source:
http://in.gredients.com
Links:
in.gredients.com/2011/05/26/in-gredients-video-full-version/
www.facebook.com/ingredients.io