Nuts, Seeds & Grains, The Refill, Leighton Buzzard

Hi! We're The Refill.

We’re your local, sustainable grocery shop for Leighton Buzzard. We offer over 400 products without single use plastic, prioritise organic produce, and choose ethical suppliers. You can bring your own containers to fill up on delicious products, knowing we’ve done all the sustainable leg work for you.

The Refill sells a range of products from kitchen cupboard staples, like rice and porridge oats, to household cleaning liquids and natural cosmetics. We’re a non-judgemental space for you to start your eco-friendly journey. Our mission is to help you feel empowered in creating a better, healthier, greener world.

How to Shop

1. Order online for local delivery around Beds and Bucks. Place your order online by midnight on Wednesday for delivery on Thursday or Friday, depending on your area.

2. Order online for free collection in store. See our FAQs for details.

3. Visit us and shop in our Leighton Buzzard store:

BRING

Bring your own clean, dry container(s) to fill.

WEIGH

Weigh your empty containers on our scales.

FILL

Fill up your containers, as little or much as you want!

PAY

Pay only for the weight of the goods.

Our Story

The Refill is a small, independent business founded by Heni Cloake in August 2020, originally as a market stall during the Covid-19 pandemic. Born from a desire to make plastic-free shopping accessible in our little triangle of Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, and Hertfordshire, The Refill is rooted in community and care.

At the time, Heni was supporting her dad through chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer, witnessing first-hand the overwhelming plastic waste generated during the pandemic, and feeling the urgent need for people to reconnect with their food. The Refill was her response - a simple, local solution to some of the biggest issues we face.

  • Organic, unprocessed food to support better health
  • Bulk, loose goods to eliminate single-use plastic
  • A welcoming shop space to bring people together over a shared passion for the planet

We believe small actions, when shared by many, create big change. And we've come a long way from that first market stall!

The Refill began with just a handful of products sold at markets in Woburn, Dunstable, Winslow, Wing, Stewkley, and Leighton Buzzard. In June 2021, we opened our first bricks-and-mortar shop on Leighton Buzzard high street. Thanks to the incredible support of our customers, we quickly outgrew the space. A community-backed crowdfunding campaign raised over £8,000, and in May 2023, we opened our bigger, brighter store at 7–9 Friday Street. (Fun fact: over 90% of the shop interior is made using repurposed materials and second-hand furnishings!)

Today, we stock over 400 products, ranging from herbs and spices, sweets, and pasta to body washes, shampoo, and refillable cleaning products — all chosen with sustainability and quality in mind.

Our shop is self-serve - weigh your container, fill it with as much or as little as you like, and pay only for what you’ve taken. Of course, we’re always on hand to help or do it for you if you’d prefer.

We don't offer everything, we're passionately not a supermarket. This is a place for people who care about what they buy and want an alternative to mainstream shopping and the problems it causes. Occasionally, we host talks and wellbeing workshops (see our events page for what's coming up). 

Our Values

We’re a values-driven business. It’s why we do what we do. Our values shape our decisions.

We are what we eat

Good Food

Have you ever stopped to think about the impact of our food on our bodies and on the planet? We’re a bit obsessive about it! From how it’s grown and transported, to what happens to the waste. We provide food that is good quality, ethically sourced and sustainably produced.

Celebrating Every Small Step

Passion over Perfection

We celebrate the small changes as well as the big movements towards a healthier planet. We greet customers at all stages of their journey, whether it’s your first refill or a quest for the latest sustainable switch. We acknowledge as a business we are still growing and adapt as we learn how to do things better. What matters most to us is the passion for the planet. 

Eco, not ego

Earth First

The climate is in crisis. The planet needs us to act now, as individuals, communities and businesses. We aim for minimal environmental impact with how we run things. We stand up for environmental justice in our community. We share knowledge freely that helps customers live a more eco-friendly lives.

Support Local First

Build Community

We want to support the local community, whether it’s stocking local products from other independent businesses or supporting local allotments to distribute their excess produce. This is a new way to do business that puts community and environment before profits. Our shop aims to be a space for people to connect.

Credits

Photography by Lobster Productions and Zsusa Zicho

Website creation by Heneback