- The store is currently undergoing renovations and is advertising a February 2022 launch
- It will offer plastic-free refill stations and stock small-business-made gifts for sustainable shopping
- Workshops and events will also be hosted at the store
A new ‘social sustainable store’, which will feature plastic-free refill stations and gifts made by small, local businesses, will be opening on Monton Road this month.
Oats and Honey, the brain-child of Sophie Smith and her partner Jay Middleton, is currently undergoing renovations in preparation for its February launch.
The sustainable store will offer local residents the option to make eco-friendly choices when shopping for groceries and household products.
A refill station will allow shoppers to stock up on dry foods such as nuts, pulses, grains, oats, pasta, and rice, as well as household essentials including washing up liquid, laundry detergent, and hair care products.
The shop will also sell locally-made gift products sourced from small businesses, and will become the primary stockist of Sophie’s established sustainable gift business.
Booze and Burn sells candles and gift items made by repurposing glass bottles often sourced from Monton bars and restaurants to prevent them going to landfill.
The 31 year old said: “I know that there’s massive convenience with Tesco and things like that, but I do just think that it’s kind of what Monton is missing.
“I do hope that in a way with this offering as well as that, people can kind of just choose to be a bit more environmentally conscious and shop more sustainably.”
The store’s eco-friendly concept taps into a growing desire for sustainability among the UK public, with 61% of shoppers trying to limit their use of single use plastics last year.
Similar stores have opened across Greater Manchester, such as The Dispensary, which opened in Walkden in late 2019, and even ASDA in Middleton trialled the concept of plastic-free refills to great success.
As well as offering plastic-free shopping, Oats and Honey will serve coffee and Manchester-sourced drinks, and provide a relaxing environment where locals can go to read a book.
They’ll even be provided with their own personal bookmark so they don’t lose their place.
Sophie added: “It’s somewhere that we want people to feel comfortable to just come in and spend an hour or two.”
Oats and Honey will also feature a workshop space in the back of the store, where people can go along and learn crafts such as candle making.
Sophie and Jay, who both grew up in the area, are looking forward to joining the vibrant Monton high street.
Sophie said: “As well as the community of people that live there, the community of people that work there is really nice.
“It’s nice to all team up and work well together. It’s definitely community over competition.”
Oats and Honey will be opening in February 2022, though an exact date has yet to be confirmed.
Monton Matters 