Naked Foods, which opens in Braddon next Tuesday offers Canberrans a place to buy healthy food and ingredients by weight – with no need to take your clothes off.
Store owner Vashti Biffanti first discovered the chain on a trip to Sydney and left wanting something similar in Canberra.
"I have this strange thing when I travel – I really like to go and investigate supermarkets," she said.
"Going to Bondi and discovering Naked Foods I was like a kid in a chocolate shop, and I thought 'I'd love to bring this to Canberra."
The brand's owners Caique and Georgina Ponzoni started out by selling spices at markets around Sydney, before progressing to certified organic foods. As demand grew, they moved into a bricks and mortar store in Bondi, followed by a store in Newtown.
In partnership with the Ponzonis, Biffanti is opening the chain's third store in the Ori Building on Lonsdale Street.
The store is set out in the style of a lolly shop – but the wares for sale are anything but.
Three long rows of plastic tubs are filled with more than 500 products from flours, nuts, seeds, grains, dried fruit and healthy treats, to biodegradable washing detergents, shampoos, oils, and liquid syrups.
Foods are organic where possible, sourced from around the world, and you can bring your own jars or bags to fill.
Biffanti, a public servant on extended leave, said the store is perfect for people experimenting in the kitchen.
"The beauty is you buy as much or as little as you want. Some recipes might call for an ingredient that you don't usually stock in your pantry.
"You might only need 250 grams of it and you're not going to use it again. So rather than having to buy a packet that you'll use a little bit of and it sits in your pantry, you can come here and get exactly what you need."
Living with a chronic illness sparked Biffanti's interest in health foods, an interest she hopes to share with customers.
"Eating whole foods goes a long way to alleviating health problems so I'm really passionate about educating people.
"We complicate so much of what we eat. Eating healthy doesn't have to be complicated."
Naked Foods will open at 10am on Tuesday. The first 30 paying customers through the door will get a goodie bag filled with products from the store and surrounding Braddon retailers.
Naked Foods is in the Ori Building at 30 Lonsdale Street, Braddon. Opening hours are 10am-7pm Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm Saturday and 10am-5pm Sunday.
