What is the Real Food Store?

Welcome to the Real Food Store, Exeter’s first community owned food business. The Real Food Store offers good, fresh food and drink from sustainable sources at an honest price. We aim to give you an enjoyable, alternative shopping experience!

The Real Food Store is owned by Exeter Local Food Ltd. which is a Community Benefit Society with over 300 members, one of the largest community-owned food enterprises in the country. You will find in one lovely and inter-connected space the:

  • Store for all your grocery needs
  • Bakery for your daily bread
  • Take-Away sandwiches and cold drinks for your grab and go lunch
  • Café & gallery upstairs for a delicious sit-down experience (You can also view local art!)

If you would like to see more of the café and shop, take a look at our 360 degree view on Google Maps below - it gives you a great feel for the bright, cheery atmosphere. Our thanks goes to Peter Stephens Photography for the images.

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    The Real Food Store is open Monday to Thursday 9-6pm and Saturday 9-5pm.

      • (The café has slightly different opening times).

      Proud Best Local Retailer Finalists at the 13th BBC Food & Farming Awards

      The Real Food Store celebrated as Best Local Retailer Runners Up

      Sarah Collier, Simon Parkes and Emma Parkin at the BBC Food & Farming Awards 2012. Real Food Store finalists.

      Sarah Collier and Emma Parkin are pictured above with Simon Parkes of Radio 4's The Food Programme during the BBC Food and Farming Awards reception held at the Birmingham NEC. The Best Local Retailer award went to Eurospar in Dolgellau who are also working very closely to build strong bonds with local producers. With over 900 nominations in the Best Local Retailer category, we are very proud to have made it to the final three after only 18 months in business. Judges Arthur Potts Dawson of The People's Supermarket and Simon Parkes were impressed with our achievements when they visited the store back in October 2012 and the calibre of the finalists across every award category was staggering. Our customers, members, staff, producers and volunteers all played a part in the success of us getting shortlisted for 2012 and we thank all of you for your continued support in helping us to reach this incredible milestone.

      Click here for more on the Real Food Store backstory.