In the summer of 2013, Brianne Miller had an idea that would change her relationship with food forever. As a marine biologist, she had witnessed firsthand the masses of harmful plastic swirling around in our oceans, the majority of which was waste associated with food packaging.

The connection was made: almost all of the problems that the oceans face were somehow linked to our current food system. How we were growing, transporting, processing, packaging, buying, selling, consuming, and throwing away food are all contributing to climate change and habitat degradation. It just didn't make sense.

She realized that the current grocery store system is broken, and that even the most ethical, local, and organic example was still caught in this cycle of waste. And so, she asked the simple question that would positively change things forever. What if food... was just food again?

What's missing in grocery stores today? Genuine care or action about the food waste issue. We don't want more stuff to throw away in the trash and we don't want our food source to be part of the problem.

Nada is responding to these growing concerns by offering 100% package-free groceries. We are filling a large gap, not only in the grocery store landscape, but in humanity and the planet's environmental needs.

At Nada, we work with our local food community to procure high quality and responsibly sourced package-free foods from right here in Vancouver and the Lower Mainland.

Not only do shoppers #BYOC (bring your own container) thus reducing their own packaging waste, they also waste less food by buying only what they need. This ultimately saves them money (an average of $1,500 per family per year!), all while supporting sustainably-minded local suppliers and helping save our planet from a plastic apocalypse.

We go beyond the four walls of our store too. We're working to improve the entire supply chain by using reusable container with our suppliers, and working on collaborative initiatives to help them green their businesses too!

We deliver the next step to a healthier food system with a holistic approach behind every decision that we make, from sourcing organic veggies from urban farms to making sure that surplus food ends up in the hands of those who need it the most. Welcome to the food system revolution!

For the past two years, we have operated with a pop-up store model with continued partnerships at Patagonia Vancouver, the Mount Pleasant Farmers' Market, and many event-based pop-ups around town. This has allowed us to get to know our customers, expand our offerings, and prove the viability of a permanent package-free grocery store in Vancouver, Canada. This past summer, we secured our permanent storefront at a busy intersection in the East Van neighbourhood of Mount Pleasant. Help us build our dream store!

Our building plans have been submitted and we are STOKED to start the renovations. While we have secured funding for most of the major capital needs, a final burst of funds will really help to bring this dream to reality. With this campaign, we are hoping to raise $25,000 which will be used towards two main projects:

If we raise more than $25,000... stay tuned for our stretch goals!

As part of our 1% for the Planet commitment, 1% of all funds raised will be donated directly to grassroots environmental non-profits in the Vancouver area tackling food waste, plastic pollution, and protection of our coasts and oceans.

We are so grateful for each and every dollar contributed towards this campaign. To thank you for your support, we're providing a selection of perks including four curated products sets, four tiers of gift cards (the more you contribute, the more you get back!), one workplace workshop designed specifically for organizations interested in reducing their waste, and one Grand Getaway!

As we know the holidays are approaching, we have enough inventory currently in stock to provide the Tooth Fairy, the Home Care Kit, and the Zero Waste Shopping Kit for local pick-up on December 17th, in store. As soon as our campaign reaches its minimum goal, we will send you an email to see whether you would prefer to pick these items up on December 17th, or have them mailed to you in early 2018. Nada Gift Cards are also digitally available before the holidays. All other perks will be mailed to your address by February 2018.

As with any company, there are risks and challenges associated with getting a new business up and running. We have already secured our lease at 675 East Broadway, have our contractor lined up, and have secured many of the major pieces of equipment involved in setting up a grocery store. The principal risk associated with our launch is timing. We have currently submitted all building plans to the City of Vancouver, and cannot start renovations until these are approved, affecting the ultimate opening date. Regardless of the opening date, our perks are expected to be delivered on time. Of course for long-distance shipping, there may be delays, but we expect these to be minimal. We will keep all backers up-to-date with any expected changes in the delivery schedule for perks, and for the opening date for the store.

There are more ways to help: You can help spread our campaign far and wide by sharing on social media via the buttons below, sharing with friends and family via email, and hey, maybe you could even share via word of mouth!