Asda opens biggest refill store yet with York debut

By

Sandra Halliday

Published
Oct 19, 2021

UK supermarkets giant Asda has this month opened the largest refill store in the country at Monk’s Cross in York. The superstore stocks 100 branded and own-brand products sold in loose and unpackaged format in a huge 18-bay refill zone.

As well as the foods that are the core category of Asda’s business,  the offer includes three Unilever bays – one of which is for health and beauty and features Radox shower gel, plus Alberto Balsam and Simple hand wash prefills.

Proctor & Gamble’s Aussie, Pantene, Head & Shoulders and Herbal Essences haircare products are also available in a refill bay

The refill zone in York is part of the supermarket’s strategy to remove 3 billion pieces of single use plastic from its business by 2025. 

The new refill store is the third opened by Asda, following the launch of its flagship store in Leeds last October and the recent opening in Toryglen, Glasgow. A fourth will open in Milton Keynes by year-end.

Refill is becoming an increasingly important part of sustainability drives by supermarkets, but also by the beauty sector as product companies and retailers look to cut down on plastic packaging. 

This year, The Body Shop has been rolling out refill stations in 400 stores globally and it plans to add the same number of stores to the offer next year.

Other beauty business are avoiding the problem altogether however, with firms such as Lush preferring to dump wrappings and sell more packaging-free products.