When you visit our islands, why not become part of island life and buy your food provisions locally. In every village on Mull and Iona, you will find a well-stocked local grocery shop that provides all the basics, and often more specialised food and drink, that you need for a visit to the island.
Because of the extra transport costs, many items are a bit more expensive than from a major mainland supermarket, but they will be fresh and good quality, often local, and save you the headache of transporting goods to your accommodation. As well as shops, you can source food from honesty boxes and by visiting suppliers where the produce is grown or reared which adds an interesting dimension to your visit.
Grocery Stores
These grocery stores serve the community the year round, seven days a week. All are licenced and provide a good range of essentials. Several stores are also post offices and have an ATM on the premises.
Tobermory
The Co-op in Tobermory High Street carries the typical stock of a small Co-op and you can order your shopping online to be picked up at the store There is an ATM in the store, but no post office as there is one further along the High Street
Dervaig
The Dervaig Stores and Post Office is spacious with a very good selection of goods and services and an on-site ATM. You can phone to order you shopping in advance or find out what is available
Salen
Salen is located in the centre of Mull, with a Spar and Post office, and an on-site ATM, offering the Spar grocery lines as well as local produce when available.
Craignure
Craignure Spar and Post Office, with on-site ATM, is conveniently located as you arrive off the ferry from Oban, selling a mixture of SPAR branded products and local produce. They also sell petrol & diesel www.craignurestores.co.uk
Pennyghael
Port Nan Gael Stores is a very well stocked shop, offering delicatessen goods as well as day to day essentials. It is on the main road to Fionnphort and has easy parking where you will also find a self-service laundry. There is no post office or ATM. https://portnangael.co.uk/shop/
Bunessan
Bunessan Spar and Post Office, manages to provide an excellent range of grocery goods in a very small space. There is no ATM but cashback is on offer for goods purchased and the Post Office can provide card cash withdrawals.
Fionnphort
The Ferry Shop and Post Office on the main street has a good selection of supplies as well as an on-site ATM. Note the Shop closes on Sundays
The Isle of Iona
The Spar Grocery Shop on Iona is well stocked but has no post office. The quaint island post office is nearby. Note there is no ATM on Iona, however you can request cashback from a purchase at the Spar Shop.
Support island life – other options for stocking up on food supplies.
Exploring the variety of small food and producers on Mull is a fascinating way to find out about island life. It helps keep helps keep traditional pastoral, craft-butchery, and small-scale growing skills alive.
Tobermory
Because Tobermory is the main town for Mull, there are several specialist shops selling food and drink provisions including Tobermory Stores and Tobermory Bakery on the Main Street and of course Tobermory Distillery. On the outskirts of the town is the Tobermory Smokehouse, selling hand-produced smoked fish, fresh local shellfish, and regional Scottish larder goods
Based just outside the town on the road to Glengorm, the Island Meats butcher’s shop stock lots of local meat with a great range of cuts on offer
Also on the road to Glengorm is the Glass Barn Café which also has a well-stocked shop selling Its own produce – Isle of Mull cheddar and Hebridean Blue cheese and and house-distilled whey gin and vodka; meat & charcuterie: preserves and other store cupboard provisions
Salen
Buy freshly made bakes and takeaway soup at The Coffee Pot and visit 24/7 Cake Honesty Box at the side of The Coffee Pot which is stocked with treats all day and night
Isle of Mull Seafood is located on Ardmor Road, just off the main Street and has an excellent range of fresh fish and shellfish.
Isle of Mull Abbatoir, less that one mile east of Salen, ensures island farmers and crofters can process their animals without stressing them. The retail shop, provides direct access to high-quality, locally sourced meats which are sustainable and provenance-assured.
The Blue Veg Hut is very near the Abbatoir so you can get stocked up on a great selection of fresh fruit and vegetables at the same time. They will also deliver.
Craignure
If you like shellfish, drop in at Inverlussa Mussels just west of Craignure where you can pick up fresh mussels from the honesty box on the shores of Loch Spelve. Just watch out for the sign on the main road to see if mussels are available. The mussels are farmed in the “Grade A” waters of the Loch, one of the cleanest and most highly regarded locations for rope-grown mussels in Scotland.
Ardalanish
On a side road to glorious Ardalanish Beach, call in at Ardalanish Farm and Weavers to buy their delicious local Highland beef and Hebridean hogget available from the freezer.
Take away lunches and home-baking
It is best to forget about your waistline when on Mull, you will be tempted by too many roadside takeaways offering island produce and they almost all offer home baking to take home. Luckily there are beautiful walks on the islands to soak up the calories. Like all very small island businesses, its best to check before you plan a visit as life does not always allow them to open. These tend to close off-season apart from the Fishnish Food Bar and the Kiosk because they serve ferry travellers.
Ulva Ferry
On the remote north west coast of Mull you will find two outlets near each other in the middle of nowhere. The Hen House sells takeaway teas, coffee, soup and a lovely selection of home baking. The Bread Box sells the best sourdough, croissants, pain au chocolat, cinnamon rolls, brownies every day and very good focaccia and also bagels to order. One can preorder as he runs out usually by lunchtime
Salen
Buy freshly made bakes and takeaway soup at The Coffee Pot and visit 24/7 Cake Honesty Box at the side of The Coffee Pot which is stocked with treats all day and night
Fishnish
The Fishnish Food Bar opens all year during ferry times at Fishnish Pier. It provides takeaway varied menu from fresh seafish to breakfast rolls, soup and toasties with tempting homemade cakes
Lochbuie
The Old Post Office at Lochbuie is a family run farm & coffee/tea shop which serves delicious home made baking and lunches. They also sell homemade ‘ready meals’ with the produce from their own farm, to take away.
Pennyghael
Loch & Loaf is an independent home bakery with a cafe operating out of the Pennyghael Community Hall providing loaves, lunches, coffee & sweet treats. There is also an honesty box.
Fionnphort
The tiny snack bar in the waiting room for the Iona Ferry on Fionnphort Pier is known by locals as the Kiosk. The locals love it and it surprises visitors with the wonderful home made soup, seafood sandwiches and delicious home baking in such an unexpected location.