Slowood Kennedy Town: Hong Kong’s New Organic Grocery & Zero Waste Lifestyle Mecca

Upon the entrance at Slowood, if the giant six-and-a-half foot tall mushroom doesn’t catch your attention, the clean industrial, steel-framed windows inviting you inside will. Looking more like a Scandi minimalist showroom than the city’s newest sustainable grocery destination, the concept behind Slowood is as beautiful as the store itself. From bulk bins to refill stations, biodegradable daily essentials to natural beauty, zero waste lifestyle digs to a vegan-friendly cafe in the back corner, this massive Kennedy Town natural food market is designed to help those interested in living more eco earn some serious planet-friendly credentials. Below, we take you through the highlights.

A sprawling 3,000 square feet with airy ceilings and tons of natural light, Slowood’s aesthetic is more Sweden than Sai Ying Pun- think a penchant for white, muted color tones, uncluttered interiors and natural elements. Recycled materials from papier-mâché are turned into wall shelves, decomposed and reformed fungi become cafe furniture – all creative and ingenious methods that act as a platform to showcase its zero waste ethos. Designed by co-owner and local HK-based designer Dora Lam, the shop places a large emphasis on light and space, allowing the meticulously curated products to practically advertise themselves.

Immaculately stacked bins of grain, organic dried fruits, nuts, seeds and pasta; dispensers filled with an assortment of oil (olive, almond, sunflower, and sesame to name a few); refill stations of bulk laundry, body wash, bath and dish soap from Common Good and The Unscented Company, shoppers will also find an impressive selection of local and international healthy, organic cooking ingredients, seasonings, sauces and ready-to-eat snacks and drinks. Conscious brands (there are over 100 on display) like raw, vegan snack mix Roar; handmade, gluten-free (not to mention dangerously addicting!) cookies from Generous; and Hawaiian hand-cut, triple-baked coconut chips Koele adorn stark, unfinished wood shelves in sleek and pristine alignment. All are carefully curated by the owners – their mission is to support brands that conduct their companies with the deepest gratitude for nature and our planet.

Along one artfully arranged wall of old wine crates, natural beauty products like cult organic luxury beauty label, Neal’s Yard, and premium personal care line, Erbaviva, sit front and center allowing patrons to sift through skincare and body creams. Slowood stocks some of the best eco-friendly, fair trade health and wellness products from Australia, New Zealand, Korea and more. On the next aisle over, a bevvy of reusable cleaning essentials and sustainable products will just about cover all your kitchen and household needs. There are FSC and compostable certified unbleached, chlorine-free coffee filters; eco-friendly disposable bamboo single-use utensils; biodegradable paper towels; scouring pads made from recycled plastic; handmade brushes made from natural materials, and the list goes on. Can’t get to a farmer’s market regularly? Not to worry, Slowood offers free-range eggs from Frenz in New Zealand. For our plant-based friends, they also carry the new and improved VeganEgg from popular vegan brand Follow Your Heart. Toward the back of the store, lifestyle homewares from ethically-minded labels like Ecology and Naturally Med, independent designers focused on craftsmanships and originality like MAM Originals and a robust collection of children’s toys and decorative items to gift or give your littles.

Sourcing the most functional, sustainable and reusable products from all over the world, Slowood has seemingly accumulated the best to conveniently sell everything you will need in one place. Shoppers are encouraged to bring their own containers, though muslin bags and Kwek glass jars are available for purchase lest you forget.

Slowood’s in-store vegan cafe serving up homemade, #plantforward comfort fare (think sourdough foccacia, beetroot burgers and kale salads) will officially open next month- we sampled the food and we can safely say it’s going to make for a delicious addition to the city’s herbivore haunts.

Mar 6 Update: Slowood is not fully vegan- the menu does have one or two non vegan options.

It’s apparent Slowood is a champion of Mother Nature, focused on helping conscious, compassionate consumers achieve a natural and sustainable lifestyle. With over 200 items in stock, the team behind this modern day mom-and-pop shop is giving our fair city a better understanding of a system in place to limit their impact on our environment. We’ve got high hopes for you, Slowood.

G/F, Shop 1 – 3, The Hudson, 11 Davis Street, Sai Wan, Kennedy Town, +852 2818 0203, hello@slowood.hk; Open every day from 10:00AM – 11:00PM.

All images courtesy of Green Queen.