The Little Green Pantry opens bigger refill shop in Wellington with community help

Wellington's much-loved refill shop has a new and bigger home, and its customers helped to build it. The Little Green Pantry has moved two doors down the road into larger premises at 6 Crown Street after raising almost £4,000 from the community.

The independent shop started life as a market stall before opening on the high street in 2021. When it outgrew that space, owner Keli King launched a Crowdfunder to pay for equipment and preparation of a new shop. The appeal raised £3,060 online, with a further £890 donated offline, making £3,950 in total.

"This shop only exists because of the community around it," Keli said when the campaign launched. "Every refill, every recommendation, every visit has helped shape what we are today."

The numbers show how far the idea has spread. Together with its customers, the shop has helped to keep more than 163,000 pieces of plastic out of landfill, created seven local jobs and supported more than 20 small businesses by stocking their products. It has hosted swap shops, helped with the local Green Festival and worked with Surfers Against Sewage to help Wellington achieve Plastic Free status. It has also raised money for charities including Macmillan Cancer Support and Against Breast Cancer through recycling schemes.

The bigger shop means a bigger weekly shop for customers. Alongside the dried food refills and cleaning liquids it is known for, The Little Green Pantry now stocks plastic-free local organic fruit and vegetables, frozen refillable foods, chilled and dairy products and vegan alternatives. Wherever possible products are sourced locally, and most come loose or in recyclable or reusable packaging so shoppers can fill their own containers.

The extra space also gives room for workshops, events and community activities focused on sustainable living. The team said the response to the crowdfunder had reminded them "just how powerful community can be".

The business has picked up a string of awards along the way, including Green Start Up of the Year Midlands in 2024 and High Street Hero titles in 2022 and 2023.

The Little Green Pantry is open six days a week and closed on Sundays and bank holiday Mondays. Find opening times, local delivery details and the newsletter at thelittlegreenpantry.co.uk.