bare market plans to open its first permanent retail location in Toronto.
bare market says the move makes it “the first one-stop shop for package-free bulk home and body care products, produce and grocery goods in Toronto’s east end.”
Dayna Stein, bare market founder, says consumers are looking for more sustainable shopping options.
“We’re thrilled to see how much the package-free community has grown in Toronto since we started almost two years ago. Opening a permanent space was the next logical step in our mission to make sustainable and ethical living easy and accessible for everyone, everywhere.
When bare market first launched, it was the only space in Toronto selling exclusively refillable goods across multiple product categories. After 65 pop up events across Toronto, bare market says it has helped to divert more than 7,300 containers from landfill.
In April 2019, bare market launched a crowdfunding campaign for their brick and mortar location, raising more than $28,000 from over 300 supporters. These funds have assisted in renovating a new 2,800 square foot space sustainably, sourcing used fixtures and refurbished equipment before purchasing new, working with materials that are safe for our health and safe to degrade in the environment, and saving deconstructed materials for reuse.
Once completed, the space offer bulk beauty, body and home care items bare market has become known for and allow for further expansion into food with plans to offer fresh produce, baked goods, dry goods, spices, oils, vinegars and more for bulk purchase. bare market is also working with food producers in the GTA to sell ready-made goods and other package-free food items, like vegan cheeses, potato chips, dips and dressings. Any surplus produce not purchased by customers will be upcycled into prepared goods in a ‘closed-loop cafe’ system, preventing unnecessary food waste.
