Community Highlights: Meet Mitchell Wilson of Tare Bulk Foods

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mitchell Wilson.

Hi Mitchell, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My wife, Amelia, and I started our health journey back in college. Living in Middle TN, it was pretty difficult to eat clean. After school, we moved out to WA state and lived there for about 5 years. Out there, it was super easy to eat clean – restaurants and all. There was a food coop near our house with a huge bulk aisle. We fell in love and went there multiple times a week. Once we got back to TN in 2020, my wife kept talking about this idea of a bulk food store. It wasn’t until the summer of 2023 that I got serious about making it happen. I spent all the nights, weekends, and lunch breaks at my job that I could working hard to get this business funded and started. Initially, we couldn’t get the SBA funding because they didn’t think the Dickson community was ready for a store like this. We kept going and eventually found a way to make it happen. Since opening in May 2024, it’s went way better than imagined. And we’re just getting started 🙂

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
After several months of very hard work putting everything together, our original SBA lender turned us down at the finish line because “Dickson wasn’t ready”. That was devastating and I desperately wanted this to happen. We rallied after a few disappointing weeks and kept going searching for funding and finally got it to work with a different SBA lender. It was all a huge risk of course. I quit my job the day the funding hit the bank and haven’t looked back. Tons of stressful days, nights, tears, the whole shabang. But I wouldn’t have it any other way.

It looks like work but it feels like play. I’m 100% obsessed & all-in on Tare Bulk Foods.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Tare Bulk Foods?
Tare Bulk Foods is a healthy bulk foods store in Dickson, TN, where we rebel against the mediocrity of normal grocery stores.

We’re not just another grocery store—we’re a stand against the bland, impersonal, and wasteful practices that have become the norm. At Tare, we believe you deserve more than the cookie-cutter experience of big-box stores.

That’s why we’ve created a shopping experience that’s rooted in authenticity, community, and a true connection to the food you eat.

Our rebellion against mediocrity goes beyond offering clean, high-quality food in bulk without wasteful packaging.

We are authentically us—real humans from this community, deeply connected to the people and place we serve. We’re intentionally going against the grain of corporate efficiencies and conveniences.

Here, you won’t find self-checkout stations, blindingly bright lights, or overwhelming aisles of nutritionally deprived abundance. Instead, you’ll find a space that feels like home, with friendly faces who are genuinely here to help.

We bring deep product knowledge to the table.

We’re not just here to sell you groceries; we’re here to be your guide. Whether you’re looking for a specific product recommendation, curious about how to use an ingredient, or simply want to know more about the benefits of what you’re buying, we’re right there with you.

Our team is passionate about what we do, and we’re dedicated to helping you get the most out of your shopping experience—whether that means sharing recipe ideas, offering cooking tips, or introducing you to new products that might just become your next favorite thing.

In our area, eating healthy shouldn’t mean driving an hour away to a bigger natural foods supermarket—that’s nearly two hours of your life, gone.

Nor should it mean ordering online with all that extra packaging and a disconnect from the real human experience of shopping.

At Tare Bulk Foods, we’re committed to offering the best products we can find, all in one convenient place.

99%+ of our items are organic and/or non-GMO, and we source locally whenever possible. Our shelves are filled with carefully curated bulk foods, from grains and spices to teas and snacks, all selected with your health and nature in mind.

We’ve been told our store offers the most soulful grocery errand in history. We don’t just provide groceries; we offer an experience. Whether it’s the feel of scooping your own organic grains into a glass jar, or the satisfaction of knowing you’re cutting down on waste, every visit to Tare Bulk Foods is a small rebellion against the ordinary.

And because we believe in reducing waste, we only use paper bags, glass jars, or organic cotton bags—no plastic, no fuss. Plus, you get 5% off when you bring in your own container to refill.

Our store is for the crunchy OG’s, the crunchy-curious, the health-conscious families, and the save-the-Earth types who want to do food differently.

If you’re someone who cares about what goes into your body and how it impacts the world, you’ll feel right at home here.

We source only the highest-quality products from trusted sources that allow us to maintain our scoop-style shopping experience.

And because we know that navigating the world of herbs, teas, and spices can be daunting, we’ve created a benefits guide to help you understand and use these powerful ingredients. Our weekly newsletter is packed with recipes that you can make using products from our store, and we even feature some of these recipes right on our bins.

At Tare Bulk Foods, we don’t preach diet dogma.

We believe that the cleaner the food, the better, and we welcome everyone—regardless of dietary preference. We’re here to provide the best version of the foods you love, so you can make choices that are right for you and your family.

We invite you to join us in our rebellion to reclaim your health, to make less trash, and to make it as soulful as possible.

Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
I have this idea called the “No Spot”, where basically you’re already in the position of if the person you reached out to or asked something of said no or didn’t respond. Like nothing changes on your end. So you might as well shoot your shot. As for the specifics, I have tremendous luck cold emailing and cold calling the people I want to network with. Even a DM. This has worked probably 50+ times for me over the years. Keep it ultra short & to the point. They’ll be more willing to help if you’re taking action already, serious about your inquriy, and don’t waste their time. Don’t ask to do coffee, just skip to asking what you’d ask at the coffee!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://tarebulkfoods.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/tarebulkfoods
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/tarebulkfoods
• Other: https://tiktok.com/@tarebulkfoods