Discover unique grocery shopping in your neighbourhood
Homeopathy London
130 King St.
Located in Covent Garden Market, Homeopathy London is a small but mighty health food store, carrying everything from make-up to tempeh. It holds refrigerated sections for vegan meat alternatives, as well as organic meat and dairy products. Their dry food section is home to countless gluten free flour alternatives, canned goods and healthy snacks. Like many of the shops on this list, the store also sells a variety of vitamins and supplements, and even offers household cleaning products. You’ll have to wander to the very back of the Market to find this spot, but once you do, there’s no doubt it will become a regular stop on all your future Market visits.
“When you’re looking for that one unique ingredient that you can’t find anywhere else, odds are you’ll find it at United.”
United Supermarket
1062 Adelaide St. N.
Sometimes Loblaws just doesn’t cut it. When you’re looking for that one unique ingredient that you can’t find anywhere else, odds are you’ll find it at United. Not far from Fanshawe College, United Supermarket is one of London’s premiere ethnic food grocery stores, selling fine global foods from China, Japan, India, Latin America and more. Here, you’ll also find a plethora of affordable produce, including rare global delicacies like whole jackfruit and Japanese eggplant. If you don’t feel like exploring the store yourself (though I highly recommend you do), United offers home delivery, accepting payments from WeChat Pay and Alipay.
Quarter Master Natural Foods
176 Wortley Rd.
This gem is a bit of a trek from Western University and Fanshawe College, but its selection is well worth the bus ride. Found right in the heart of Wortley Village, Quarter Master is your place to find locally grown fruits and vegetables, as well as a wide variety of hard-to-find vegan and gluten free options. What makes this spot unique is that they actually prepare fresh meals on site, including soups to-go, baked goods and homemade vegan turkey available for holidays. But it’s not all vegan options; you can also find organic meat, cheese and fish, making Quarter Master a one-stop shopping experience for those who prefer organic, locally sourced groceries.
On the Move Organics
onthemoveorganics.ca
What better way to get your fix of organic ingredients than by having them delivered right to your door? Founded in London’s Old East Village in 2008, On the Move Organics offers delivery of locally sourced fruits, vegetables, meats, and more. You can catch them delivering these organic goods in their recognizable van, or most often, on bicycles throughout the city. Just place a minimum $35 order online, and either get your groceries delivered or pick them up yourself at the London Brewing Taproom (521 Burbrook Place). You can also find them at the Western Fair Market every weekend.
Reimagine Co.
206 Piccadilly St.
Committed to sourcing locally and providing a zero-waste shopping experience, Reimagine Co. is the place to shop for plant-based eaters looking to make a difference. Reimagine Co. started as a small pop-up shop selling zero-waste products that eventually grew into a community effort to create the city’s first zero-waste grocery store. To shop at the store, you’ll need to BYOC (bring your own container), including jars for things like oils and beans, and bags for produce and breads. Reimagine makes for a great option for shoppers looking to expand their plant-based needs, and help the planet along the way. Read more about Reimagine Co. here.
Diet & Wellness Health Food Store
944 Oxford St. E.
Opened during the COVID-19 pandemic by a graduate of Western University, Diet & Wellness Health Food Store is the newest shop on this list. Despite the timing of its opening, Diet & Wellness has already become a popular stop for locals to get their healthy food fix. Here, you’ll find products that cater to any diet you can think of, from keto to gluten free to diabetic. They carry a wide variety of products from several local and international vendors, and unlike some of the other shops listed here, this store sells products like pet food and even clothing. A short bus ride from Fanshawe College, this is one store that can easily be worked into your weekly grocery routine.