For Laughing Water, co-founder of Real Food Market & Deli in Helena, nothing makes a bigger mark on the planet than a knife and fork.
“Eating more foods that are plant-based, organic and local happens to be a great choice for both your health and the health of the planet,” said LW. “And that’s where we shine. Simply put: real food, really local. At our store, a healthy body, mind and planet matters. Every single day.”
The independently owned business, which was founded in 1975 by LW and his late wife, India Supera, initially opened as a specialty store on Last Chance Gulch. As consumer interest in the natural food movement began to thrive, the store continued to expand its offerings and is now celebrating its 20th year as a full-service 14,000-square-foot supermarket that features more than 10,000 plant-based, organic and local products, as well as an award-winning deli at its current location, 1096 Helena Ave., in the Hustad Center.
LW said the market’s local foods are sourced from dozens of Montana suppliers, including organic foods from small growers in the Helena area. In fact, Real Food has also long been one of the rare natural food stores to be a certified organic food handler. The fresh meat department features strictly grass-fed Montana meats. A salad and hot food bar allow customers the choice of eating on-site or ordering takeout. The store offers wheat-free, dairy-free and vegan products, domestic and imported cheeses, hard-to-find gourmet items and Asian and other ethnic foods, as well as natural remedies and supplements. Real Food’s tagline “Our Perishable – Keep Cool” appears on T-shirts that are available for sale as a reminder to staff and customers of the store’s commitment to helping stop climate change.
A pioneer in the natural foods space, LW’s passion was fed by the Human Potential movement of the 1960s. He began a lifelong yoga practice at age 13 and went on to study philosophy, growth psychology and Eastern religions before a three-week yoga vacation at Feathered Pipe Ranch, where he met and later married his wife.
“We were definitely the pioneers, and we happened to be right about the importance of natural foods and their relationship to our health and lifestyle,” he said. “We still consider ourselves part of a movement, working with hundreds of locally owned, independent stores like ours to bring our customers seriously competitive prices and to share a mission that goes beyond profit.”
LW said the everyday low prices, combined with monthly specials, make it possible for customers to save even more by buying basic foods in bulk, which also reduces waste.
“Top performers in every field know that healthy food is key to being at the top of your game,” LW said, “even if it’s just the game of life. And we’re here to make it fun, affordable and irresistibly delicious.”
For more information, please visit realfoodstore.com.
