Bulk food stores like Naked Foods are becoming increasingly popular places to buy your staples. According to Canstar Blue, Australian households spend $6,720 a year, equating to $140 per week on groceries. Buying at a bulk food store not only saves you money, but it is also better for the environment.
Here are a few reasons why buying in bulk stores are better:
It’s Budget-Friendly
One of the main reasons for buying in bulk is because it is budget-friendly. In supermarkets, the cost of the packaging is greater than the actual product itself, meaning when you buy in bulk, the price you are paying is for the product. Plus, when you buy exactly what you need, you will be saving money on the ingredients you need for each meal.
Reduces Food and Packaging Waste
Another good reason to buy at a bulk food store is to reduce food and packaging waste per household. According to OzHarvest, Australians waste 298kg of food per person, which equals the same weight as six adult kangaroos. Buying in bulk allows you to buy what you need through a simple scoop, bag and weigh process – limiting the excess product and packaging that might not get used before the expiration date.
It’s More Eco-Friendly
Bulk food stores make for a more eco-friendly way to shop because it reduces the amount of manufactured plastic and rubbish left in a landfill. Stores like Naked Foods allow you to bring in your glass jars and reusable containers from home to fill and store your products.
Besides, because bulk stores tend to buy their produce in larger quantities, it requires less packaging and less transportation. Often the produce comes directly from the source, and therefore, it will usually come in sustainable packaging than your standard supermarket single wrapped items.
Supermarket items are usually heavily produced and tend to have a longer shelf life. Bulk foods tend to be less processed and have a shorter shelf-life; because of their high turnover, your guaranteed fresher produce.
Fresher Products
Bulk food stores like Naked Foods only stock natural and wholesome products – free from the nasties, which means you are guaranteed fresher products. Bulk food stores usually get their products directly from the source, meaning they are less processed, assuring you that no product in the store has been there for long.
Here are our tips for bulk buying at Naked Foods:
- Prepare your storage for your products before you go shopping.
- Shop with a friend, a neighbour or your mum.
- Make sure you understand how long a product shelf life is.
- Don’t bulk an item you haven’t tried before.
- Keep in mind bulk food stores like Naked Foods sell ‘cost per Grams and Kilograms. Make sure you only buy what you need for the cost you have allotted.
Bibliography
- Shreeves, R (2019). The many Benefits of buying Bulk Foods. Treehugger. Accessed <https://www.treehugger.com/the-many-benefits-of-buying-bulk-foods-486777>
- Birot, M (2020). What is the average grocery bill? Canstar. Accessed <https://www.canstarblue.com.au/groceries/average-grocery-bill/#:~:text=Aussie%20households%20spend%20on%20average,month%20or%20%246%2C720%20a%20year.>
- Syren, F (2020). Zero Waste – Benefits of Buying in Bulk. The Zero Waste Family. Accessed <https://zerowastefamily.com/zero-waste-benefits-buying-bulk>
- Oz Harvest (n.d). Food Waste Facts. OzHarvest. Accessed <https://www.ozharvest.org/sustainability/food-waste-facts/?gclid=CjwKCAjwmv-DBhAMEiwA7xYrd20S3HIBpJUkdewj7C8dc4tLbpi0NiU-TqR6JuT7HyZjrsdrl0m_SxoCgrMQAvD_BwE>
- Lempert, P (2016). Benefits of Bulk Buying. Supermarket Guru. Accessed <https://www.supermarketguru.com/articles/benefits-of-bulk-buying/>
- Green Foot Mama (n.d). Why Bulk Buying is Eco-Friendly. Green Foot Mama. Accessed < https://greenfootmama.com/bulk-buying-eco-friendly/>
- DeBerry, L (n.d). 5 Reasons to buy Your Food in Bulk. Spoon University. Accessed < https://spoonuniversity.com/lifestyle/expensive-taste-and-a-broke-budget>
About the Author:
Latasha Trenaman is a Sydney based writer who is passionate about healthy eating. Latasha’s partner was diagnosed with diabetes in 2018. She has made it her life mission to share her and her partners’ experiences living with diabetes by promoting healthy food, especially sugar-free options. She believes in the power of writing and how it can inspire others in their journey to becoming more healthy. When she is not writing, she is walking her dog or baking sugar-free treats.
