Bridie of Bare
“There was no grand plan... we tried things, changed them, stuffed a few up, and just kept going. I’m someone who overthinks and wants everything to be perfect, but you quickly learn that nothing happens if you wait for the perfect version before starting.”
What were you doing before Bare—and how did those experiences influence your approach to business?
Before Bare, I was running SWOP, which was honestly just me learning how to run a business as I went. There was no grand plan... we tried things, changed them, stuffed a few up, and just kept going. I’m someone who overthinks and wants everything to be perfect, but you quickly learn that nothing happens if you wait for the perfect version before starting.
All of the jobs I’ve had have involved people, running a physio clinic and working in a prep school in London, that kind of thing. At the time I didn’t think much of it, but looking back, I’ve always leaned into building real relationships. I think that’s why Bare works, people don’t feel like customers, they feel like part of it. So I’d say everything before this taught me two things: you figure it out as you go, and if you genuinely care about people, they’ll back you.
What inspired you to start Bare Refill Grocery? Was there a particular moment or experience that sparked the idea?
Bare really grew out of what we started with SWOP in Raglan. That’s where I realised how many people genuinely want to shop with less waste, even if it meant driving from Hamilton just to fill a jar of oats. Holidaymakers and weekend regulars would tell us all the time that they wished they had something like it closer to home. Eventually it stopped being just a lovely compliment and started sounding like something people were genuinely waiting for.
Then Made approached us about bringing that concept into their space in Hamilton. When I saw the plans, it instantly reminded me of the markets I used to shop at in London when I moved over straight out of high school, curated but not pretentious, a bit cool, and full of small traders doing things their own way. I loved that style of shopping and the idea of creating that here felt like the right next step.
Bare became the bigger version of our Raglan store - the same values, just with more room to grow. The goal was never to become a shiny eco supermarket. It was to stay local and human, just in a space where more people could find us. I wanted anyone to feel comfortable walking in, whether they had matching jars, a yoghurt container or nothing at all.
It didn’t happen overnight. It was the right timing, a few nudges from the right people, and a feeling that if I didn’t do it then, I’d miss the moment.
For someone that hasn’t been before, talk us through the process - do we need to bring our own jars?
It’s really simple: we weigh your container before you fill it, you scoop or pour what you need, and then we weigh it again at the counter so you’re only paying for the product. You can grab one thing or do your whole shop, there’s no minimum, no rules, and no need to know what you’re doing before you walk in. You don’t need to show up with a perfectly curated set of jars to shop here.
Bring whatever you’ve got whether it’s ice cream containers, old jam jars, takeaway tubs or just turn up empty-handed. We’ve got a Jar Library full of donated jars you can use for free, and we also sell new ones if you want something you’ll reuse again and again. If you get stuck or look a bit lost, we’ll just jump in and help. People overthink it, but once you’ve done it once, it feels normal really quickly.
What does the word sustainability mean to you personally, and how does it shape your daily life?
For me, sustainability isn’t about being perfectly zero-waste or living off-grid, it’s more about being thoughtful and not buying more than you need to. I really resonate with how Nicola Turner talks about it: reducing overconsumption, making considered choices, and doing what works in real life, not some ideal version of it.
I’m not someone who gets it right 100% of the time, and I don’t expect anyone else to either. It’s more about small habits that stack up like using what you have, refilling things instead of rebuying them, not treating everything as disposable. I think people connect with that more than being told to change their whole lifestyle to “save the planet.” So for me, sustainability is less about being extreme and more about being aware. You don’t have to make your own deodorant or overhaul your life to be part of the solution, you just start where you are and do what makes sense.
What have been some of the biggest hurdles you’ve faced in setting up a low-waste grocery business?
One of the biggest challenges is that the whole supply chain is still set up for plastic-wrapped and not a lot of bulk buying. Most suppliers want to send everything how they sell it to consumers, so trying to do things differently without creating waste ourselves has taken a lot of problem-solving.
Then there’s the fun part of competing with supermarkets. They’ve got buying power, storage space, marketing budgets and staff rosters the size of small villages. We’re over here making it work with a tiny team, limited space and no safety net. People love the idea of low-waste, but it still has to be easy and affordable or they just go straight back to the corporate chains.
It might look calm and tidy on the shelves, but behind the scenes it’s a constant juggle to make it work in a system that’s not set up for small operators. That’s why when someone shops with us, it’s not just a transaction, it genuinely keeps the wheels turning.
What are you most proud of when it comes to how Bare has grown and evolved?
I’m really proud that we’ve managed to grow without losing the heart of what makes Bare… Bare. We’ve added produce, meat and more pantry staples, but it still feels like a neighbourhood store rather than a concept.
What I love most is the people side of it. We’ve watched some of our customers’ kids go from being carried in to now filling their own jars and asking questions about how it all works. We’ve got people who pop in most days for a snack or a top-up, and you start to actually know them, what they do, how their day’s going and what’s happening in their lives.
It doesn’t feel transactional. It feels relational. Seeing people slowly change how they shop, even in small ways, because it now feels normal to them, that’s the bit that makes me feel like we’re doing something worthwhile.
What advice would you give someone who is just starting to explore low-waste or sustainable living?
Don’t overthink it and don’t do it alone. Come in, ask questions, borrow a jar, have a chat. Learning together is half the fun. Low-waste living isn’t about being perfect, it’s about being part of a community that’s trying. And remember to get your jars weighed!
You have recently expanded your offering to include fresh produce and meat! Tell us about that.
We’ve partnered with Expleo Butchery for our meat and a handful of local growers for fresh, seasonal produce. It’s all New Zealand-sourced, minimal waste, and designed to make shopping here simpler for people who want to grab everything in one spot while still supporting local businesses. We carry the rotating flavours of sausages, burger patties and steaks from Expleo and then anything new they like to send us! And we now have the highly anticipated Peria Strawberries back for another summer season!
What’s next for Bare? Are there any dreams or future directions you’re excited about?
I’d love to see Bare evolve into more than just a store, maybe workshops, collaborations, new refill ideas and getting our fresh cold pressed juices and flower bar back up and running now that we’ve found our new routine with our additions. But the goal is the same as it’s always been: making conscious shopping feel simple, social and human. If we can keep doing that, then the future looks pretty good.
Coffee order?
Flat white.
A product you think everyone should refill?
Peanut Butter, it gets no better than refilling your jar from peanuts to peanut butter!
You’re at Made on your day off - where would we find you?
Day off, ha! Probably grab a coffee and a sweet treat. Or out on the deck at Reggies in the evening!
Made guilty pleasure?
Butter Boom croissants - any new ones they have to try!
One word to describe Bare?
Brave
