Bulk foods

Bulk foods are food items offered in large quantities, which can be purchased in large, bulk lots or transferred from a bulk container into a smaller container for purchase.[1] Bulk foods may be priced less compared to packaged foods because they are typically packaged in large generic bulk containers and packaging for grocery outlets, which utilizes lesser natural resources.[1][2][3] Additionally, less packaging is congruent with the environmental conservation of natural resources[4] and sustainability.[3] One study found a 96% reduction in packaging used for bulk foods compared to packaged foods.[4]

Bulk foods at the Real Canadian Superstore in Winkler, Manitoba.

The Rungis International Market in France offers wholesale bulk foods.

National Bulk Foods Week

A National Bulk Foods Week[1][2] was designated between October 16–22, 2011 in ten U.S. states.[5]

Products

Some commonly available bulk foods and products include:

Dry goods

• Beans
• Candy [6]
  • Licorice [6]
• Cereals [7]
• Coffee [4]
• Cookies
• Cornmeal
• Dehydrated potatoes [6]
• Dried fruits [1]
  • Dates [4]
  • Dried kiwifruit [6]
• Grains [1]
  • Bulgur [4]
  • Flour [1][7]
  • Oats [6]
  • Pancake mix
  • Pasta [1]
    • Noodles [6]
  • Popcorn
  • Rice [1][7]
  • Whole grains
• Granola [3]
• Herbs [6]
• Nuts [1]
• Peanuts [4]
• Pet food
• Pretzels [1]
• Salt
• Seasonings [6]
• Spices [7]
  • Crystallized ginger [6]
• Sugar
• Tea [7]
• Trail mix [4]

Liquid and wet goods

• Honey [1]
• Cooking oils
• Fruit spreads [6]
• Olive oil [1]
• Maple syrup [1]
• Molasses
• Peanut butter
• Vinegar [1]

Household goods

• Dish detergent [1]
• Laundry detergent [1]

Retailers

Notable retailers of bulk foods include:

• Cub Foods [2]
• Costco
• Food 4 Less
• Bulk Barn
• Giant Eagle [3]
• Lunds [2]
• Real Canadian Superstore
• Roundy's [2]
• Rungis International Market
• Sam's Club
• Sprouts Farmers Market [8]
• Whole Foods Market [2]
• WinCo Foods [9]

See also

• Grocers – originally sold dry goods out of bins and barrels
• Grocery store

References

1. Carpenter, Susan (October 14, 2011). "Buy in bulk: Those big bins mean fewer recyclables". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 28, 2012.
2. "How Buying Bulk Foods Saves Money, Environment". Fox News (Twin Cities). October 17, 2011. Retrieved February 29, 2012.
3. Major, Meg (April 7, 2010). "Sustainable Food Trends: On Board with Bulk". Progressive Grocer. Archived from the original on October 29, 2012. Retrieved February 29, 2012.
4. Corbin, Lori (November 17, 2011). "Save money by purchasing bulk food in bins". KABC TV (Los Angeles). Archived from the original on November 20, 2011. Retrieved February 29, 2012.
5. "National Bulk Foods Week 2011". Huffington Post. October 18, 2011. Retrieved February 28, 2012.
6. Beck, Joanne (August 16, 2011). "Molasses Hill Bulk Foods brings eclectic fare to city". The Daily News (Batavia, NY). Archived from the original on February 3, 2013. Retrieved February 29, 2012.
7. "Precycling." Indiana 4-H, Purdue University. Accessed June 2011.
8. "Bulk". sprouts.com. Retrieved August 8, 2018.
9. "Bulk Foods". Wincofoods.com. Archived from the original on February 22, 2012. Retrieved February 29, 2012.

Further reading

• Dickinson, Meg (March 30, 2011). "Amish bulk-food store a great resource". The News Gazette (Central Illinois). Retrieved February 29, 2012.
• Hinton, Dave (October 30, 2011). "Bulk food service to start in Rantoul". The News-Gazette (Central Illinois). Retrieved February 28, 2012.