Zero waste refill systems for retail
Better for customers. Better for business. Better for the planet.
Give customers the freedom to buy exactly what they need while reducing single-use packaging and food waste.
For more than 20 years, Martek Zero Waste has helped retailers introduce practical, reliable and attractive packaging-free food displays. Our experience includes working with Waitrose, Co-op and hundreds of independent zero-waste stores nationwide.
From a small refill section to a large-scale supermarket installation, we provide the expertise, equipment and support to make refill retail work.
Make refill work for your store.
Consumers want more sustainable choices, but a successful refill offer must also be convenient, affordable and commercially viable.
Martek self-service dispensers allow shoppers to choose the precise quantity they want and use reusable containers. This creates a transparent shopping experience while helping retailers reduce packaging, minimise product waste and serve customers at a lower entry price.
Retail refill systems can help you:
- Eliminate unnecessary single-use packaging
- Reduce food waste through portion choice
- Offer accessible prices by letting shoppers buy less
- Create an attractive and engaging in-store experience
- Build customer loyalty
- Improve margins through bulk purchasing
- Demonstrate a visible commitment to sustainability
Refill is a practical response to the plastic crisis
The world produces hundreds of millions of tonnes of plastic every year, yet less than 10% is recycled globally. In the UK alone, households discard an estimated 1.7 billion pieces of plastic packaging every week.
Recycling cannot solve the problem on its own. To create meaningful change, businesses must reduce unnecessary packaging at source.
Refill systems offer a straightforward solution. Products are supplied in bulk, customers buy only what they need, and reusable containers replace disposable packaging. One simple change tackles both plastic pollution and food waste.
Refill is not simply a retail trend. It is a smarter way to sell.
Flexible systems for every retail environment
Our food dispensers are suitable for:
- Supermarkets
- Independent zero-waste stores
- Farm shops
- Convenience stores
- World food retailers
- Health food shops
- Garden centres and pet stores
Choose from gravity dispensers, scoop bins and modular fixtures in a range of sizes. We can create a new refill area or integrate dispensers into your existing shelving and store design.
Gravity dispensers
Gravity dispensers provide controlled, easy-to-use dispensing for free-flowing foods, including:
- Cereals and grains
- Rice, pasta and pulses
- Nuts and seeds
- Coffee beans
- Confectionery and snacks
- Dried pet food
Our EcoFlo and XeroFlo ranges are available in capacities from 6 to 21 litres, with bases for shelf mounting or hooks for wall-mounted installations. Different sizes can be combined to match your product range and rate of sale.
Clear containers present products beautifully, make stock levels easy to monitor and give customers confidence in what they are buying.
Scoop dispensers
Scoop bins are ideal for delicate, sticky, irregularly shaped or powdered products that are unsuitable for gravity dispensing.
Available in capacities from 8 to 22 litres, our durable BPA-free scoop dispensers can be supplied with a scoop or tongs. Each unit includes a utensil holder, tether and product display label.
Combining gravity and scoop dispensers gives you the flexibility to offer a much wider range of packaging-free foods.
Your experienced retail refill partner
A successful refill installation involves more than choosing containers. Product selection, customer flow, hygiene, merchandising and ease of use all matter.
Martek combines more than two decades of specialist experience with in-house design and manufacturing capabilities. We can support your project from the first conversation to the completed installation.
Our service includes:
- Site and space planning
- Dispenser and fixture selection
- Bespoke display design
- Branding and merchandising
- Manufacturing
- Delivery and installation
- Support for single stores and national roll-outs
Martek designs, delivers and installs—giving you one experienced partner throughout the process.
Proven in real-world retail
We have worked with major names including Waitrose and Co-op, as well as hundreds of independent zero-waste retailers across the UK.
That experience means we understand the needs of both large retail groups and owner-operated stores. Whether you want to test refill in one location, improve an existing display or introduce a solution across multiple sites, we will help you build a system that works for your business and your customers.
Ready to rethink retail?
The shift towards reuse is growing. Introducing refill now can help your business reduce waste, strengthen its sustainability credentials and meet demand for more flexible, affordable ways to shop.
Tell us about your store, products and available space. We will help you create an effective refill system that looks good, works hard and delivers measurable value.
Let’s build a cleaner, smarter and more sustainable approach to food retail.
