Desert Island Stores: Sarah Vachon, co-founder of Citizens of Soil
In this latest Desert Island Stores interview, Glynn Davis speaks with Sarah Vachon, co-founder of Citizens of Soil.
The store you remember from childhood?
My mother was always into healthy food, and as a child, she used to drive me from our small town in Texas into Dallas to go to Whole Foods. While a big, premium, international marketplace now, when I was a kid it was new and much more low-key. It was the one place she would let me actually pick out anything on the shelf to eat, since the normal grocery stores in the US at that time were pretty chock full of ultra-processed and junk food. She also would get all sorts of things I then thought of as ‘hippie’, but now appreciate so much as wholesome ingredients. While it has become a mega store, when I visit its striking shop in Kensington, London—I still get fond memories of it from growing up (as it did) in Texas.
Most inspirational store to your career?
Selfridges was a game-changer for us. It was less than a year into the business when we launched, and I was still running Citizens of Soil as a side-hustle while working in sustainability. It was just this iconic shop that I had visited before I even lived in London, and suddenly my humble olive oil brand was on the shelves in one of the most innovative, creative department stores in the world alongside the best of fashion, beauty, design. We even brought our first farmers (close family friends) to the shop when they visited us. I had never worked in a retail shop before, so even just going in to do my regular tastings and going through the back-of-house process with the lockers and seeing behind the curtain at how that place works was fascinating. Still today, our buyer there, Maria, is smart and switched on in her category and genuinely has enthusiasm about what she does.
Subscribe to TRBMost frequently used store?
Sadly don’t have a great shop near me anymore, but I do go every weekend to my local farmers’ market. For my regular hauls it’s Ocado for home deliveries and Waitrose or Planet Organic when I’m in the city centre. For nice things when I’m in a rush or forgot to pick up while out I’m increasingly using Zapp as they have all my favourite snacks and just the last-minute things you need for a dinner party.
The store you wished you’d created?
Panzer’s Deli. It’s 80 years old, but what it stocks today is some of the most exciting food and drink in the country. I love that it has the cafe and terrace, as I love a shop with more of a hospitality and experience offering. Similarly, Eataly is just next-level. It’s like Disneyland for those who enjoy Italian food. So over the top, but quite the experience – to shop, eat, and drink there.
Your overall favourite store?
El Corte Inglés, Spain’s stunning department store. From full-on grocery, to posh pantry, to high-end fashion, cafes, interiors—it’s really one of the best in the world and the one in Madrid near where I used to live is just a delight to drop in. In the UK, I also love popping into Planet Organic and I really trust their thoughtful sourcing. I can never leave without picking up something new.
The store you’d like to take to the desert island?
El Corte Inglés since it has absolutely everything.
