Lentil as Anything Thornbury open “pay as you feel” grocery shop, The Inconvenience Store

FED up with rising supermarket prices? You might want to get “down, down” to this Thornbury grocery store where shoppers decide how much they want to pay for their weekly shop.

A GROCERY store with no set prices might sound inconvenient, but Lentil as Anything says its latest project will introduce the community to the “lentil way of life”.

The Inconvenience Store in Thornbury will stock produce from its Food without Borders team and is modelled on its “pay as you feel” restaurants, where diners are encouraged to pay what they can or want to.

Project co-ordinator Astrid Ryan said the store had two aims: to reduce food waste and ensure the less fortunate had a healthy food option.

STINGY CUSTOMERS CLOSE RESTAURANT

VEGANS IN GRAFFITI BATTLE

FEED MELBOURNE HELPING PUT MEALS ON TABLES

“We have been going around different shops and markets in the local community and if they have excess food they can no longer sell at the end of the day,” she said.

Astrid Ryan is in charge of the year-long project. Picture: James Ross

And a partnership with food rescue organisations Second Bite had linked the store with Preston Market traders.

They already have a deal with the market and expect to pick up almost 600kg of produce on Saturdays.

Soon they’ll receive produce from Darebin Aldi’s as well.

“We want to educate people on food waste and how to shop consciously — not to always take the perfect vegetable,” Ms Ryan said.

Ms Ryan expects a lot of customers will be those familiar with their restaurants but hopes the food will reach those who need it most.

The community event space at Thornbury Lentil as Anything is being transformed into the grocery store. Picture: Mark Wilson

“For people living in poverty or in crisis the cheapest food they’re going to get is not always going to be the healthiest,” she said.

And for any questions about people paying 50 cents for 10kg of avocados, Ms Ryan said she had faith.

“We’ll navigate it as it comes along — the pay as you feel model has supported the community for 18 years so I trust that people will do the right things,” she said.

Lentil as Anything is always looking for more volunteers and encouraged anyone curious about its program to visit its website.

The grocery store will open at the Thornbury location of Lentil as Anything at 562-564 High St on July 8 from 11am to 3pm.

@richardapearce