Épicerie Basta opened on Rachel Street in the Plateau with a simple premise: make reuse normal again. Founded by Alexandre Dufresne, the neighbourhood grocery cuts down on single-use packaging by selling a growing share of its products in returnable, deposit-based containers that the store washes and puts back into circulation. The idea borrows from Quebec’s long-standing bottle return system, applied to everyday groceries instead of beer.

The shelves are stocked with ready-to-eat meals, baked goods, pantry staples, cosmetics, household cleaners, beer, and wine—most of it sourced from Quebec producers. Designed to fit into existing shopping habits with minimal friction, Basta quietly makes a case for reuse as a scalable alternative.