When Steph Ayres first walked into the refill shop in Ballinspittle, she never imagined that one day she’d be running a grocery store from that very same space. At the time, she was just another environmentally-conscious customer, drawn to the shelves stocked with sustainable, package-free goods. So when she heard the much-loved store was closing, a few casual questions quickly turned into late-night research, and before long, Gather was born – a space where sustainability, good food, and community meet. “It’s a business that combines my love of food and cooking with my experience in growing better, more nutritious food and supporting better animal welfare,” shares Steph.
Originally from Plymouth, Devon, Steph grew up immersed in nature, captivated by David Attenborough documentaries and a fascination with the natural world. She pursued a degree in Illustration at Falmouth, specialising in natural history, and even travelled to the Amazon rainforest of Ecuador to study wildlife. But as often happens, life took her in unexpected directions. She worked as a graphic designer for a while, branding and packaging for food companies before turning to cheffing, spending eight years in Cork kitchens such as OHK, The Black Pig, and My Goodness. A pop-up dining venture, Taco Nocturno, helped her gain the confidence to branch out on her own. While she had once hoped to break into the animation industry and still enjoys illustrating, Steph’s path led her to a role that spoke to her passions for food, sustainability and people.
At Gather, sustainability is at the core of everything. Customers bring their own containers to refill pantry staples like grains, spices, olive oil, and cleaning products, reducing packaging waste. “Do you really need a paper bag for a single carrot?” asks Steph. “We provide cardboard boxes so people can buy produce loose.” The store prioritises locally sourced, high-quality products, from Red Strand’s compostable-packaged coffee to artisan cheeses and vegan fermented foods. A selection of cookbooks encourages people to cook at home, a habit Steph believes leads to healthier, more connected eating. By offering refills and loose goods, Gather also helps customers buy only what they need, reducing food waste. Any unavoidable waste from the shop is either repurposed in Steph’s own cooking or composted for use in her home vegetable garden.
But Gather is about more than food. “I really wanted it to be a hub for the community, a place to, well, gather.” While the restrictions of the building have limited the possibility of hosting workshops, Steph finds other ways to foster a sense of connection. Social media helps promote local events, and the shop itself has become a place where people stop to chat, exchange recipes, and seek advice on ingredients. “People often come looking for cooking tips, or ideas on what to do with a certain ingredient. I love that – it makes the shop more than just a place to buy food.” Regular customers come back not just for the groceries, but for the conversations, whether it’s about meal ideas, sustainable living, or simply catching up with a friendly face.
Running Gather has been rewarding but demanding. “Once I commit to something, I give it my all,” admits Steph. The first year in business has meant little downtime, though she’s working on finding balance. “I’m planning to get back to growing my own vegetables and taking more short trips to West Cork to walk in the woods.” In the background, she’s also finding time to work on an illustrated food and vegetable calendar. “Because I’m terrible at remembering exactly when things are in season, despite growing my own vegetables, and I reckon it’s a mystery to a lot of people.”
Working with food and sustainability requires constant learning and adaptation, and Steph is always looking for ways to improve the shop, stock new products that customers want, and support more local producers.
One of her best memories of opening the shop was the support from friends. “We had a painting party to set up the space. That was such a sweet, supportive time.” This sense of collaboration and community has carried through to the way Gather operates today. Local suppliers and producers play a big role in the shop’s success, and Steph is passionate about strengthening those connections. “The more we support local producers, the stronger and more vibrant our villages and towns become,” she says.
Gather isn’t just shaped by Steph, it’s shaped by the people who shop there. Every day, customers bring new ideas, requests, and stories, influencing what’s stocked and how the shop evolves. Much more than just a grocery store, it has become a space where people connect over good food, shared values, and friendly chat.
