The Real Foods on Broughton Street is a real treasure for any foodie who wants to avoid either chemically enhanced sludge food or supermarkets. This shop sells natural food – by which they mean organic, ethical, fair trade but also a range of special diet foods too. If you’re looking for a cake mix that lets you bake without eggs, for example, then Real Foods is a good place to look.
Real Food enjoys a good location at the top of Broughton Street. The nexus of York Place (the end of Queen Street), Leith Walk and Leith Street is an easy place to get a bus. In fact, it’s barely 10 minutes walk from the bus station for those people travelling into the city. Broughton Street connects into that nexus and Real Foods is less than a minute walk from where the streets meet.
The shop itself is fairly large. This is not a pokey little shop on the corner. The main room is spacious although a large centre shelf gobbles up much of room and anyone bringing large rucksacks will need to make certain they don’t obstruct everyone else.
The second half of the store is sub-divided. There is a chill section at the back for food that needs to be kept cold like dairy free cream or cold drinks. There’s a section for health foods and supplements as you approach the tills as well as an off licence.
Real Foods makes use of two tills. This is clever and just as well as there is frequently a little queue. Most regular shoppers bring their own bags but the ethical retailer does have a supply of re-used bags to equip anyone who forgot those.
I enjoy shopping at Real Foods. Recommended.