Precycle
Precycle is a Brooklyn-based, founder-owned zero-waste grocery operating two package-free storefronts and same-day delivery across NYC, selling bulk goods, produce, and home goods via tare-weight checkout and a reusable-container return loop to eco-conscious consumers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersBrooklyn, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Precycle does
Precycle is a privately held, founder-owned zero-waste grocery company headquartered in Brooklyn, New York, operating since December 2018 under founder Katerina Bogatireva. The company sells package-free produce, bulk dry goods, oils, spices, home goods, and personal care items across two physical storefronts — the original Bushwick store at 50 Cypress Ave and a second Prospect Heights/Vanderbilt location at 593 Vanderbilt Ave opened in 2024 — plus online channels. Its core technology is a tare-weight checkout system in which empty containers are weighed and subtracted at the register so customers pay only for product, combined with a reusable container return-and-credit loop (notably the $1 credit per returned container at Vanderbilt) and an upstream packaging-elimination model in which select suppliers deliver in refillable vessels (tofu in five-gallon buckets, honey with bucket take-back, produce in reusable crates).
Precycle's business model is direct-to-consumer retail and delivery, priced by weight in-store and by item online, with no memberships, minimums, or required deposits for in-store shopping. Online, the company runs a Shopify-powered storefront (precycle.shop) offering same-day weekday delivery to Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens in returnable totes, with orders fulfilled by local couriers and Mercato as a third-party marketplace. Adjacent revenue streams include branded merchandise (MiiR drinkware, branded tote bags) shipped via UPS Ground to the continental US, and a Square-powered gift card program at the Vanderbilt location. Revenue mechanics are essentially transaction-based grocery retail with limited recurring revenue; capital structure is bootstrapped plus a February 2024 Honeycomb Credit debt crowdfunding campaign of approximately $96,681 earmarked for marketing, inventory, and high-interest debt refinancing.
The company's customers are primarily eco-conscious NYC walk-in shoppers and online grocery buyers in the tri-borough area, supplemented by a niche B2B relationship with The Wally Shop (a zero-waste bike-delivery startup that resells Precycle inventory). Marketing relies heavily on earned media (WSJ, National Geographic, World Economic Forum, ABC, NBC, FOX), content marketing (Precycle News blog), and social (Instagram @precyclenyc, TikTok). Precycle is a Certified B Corporation (Feb 2022), recognized as New York City's first package-free grocery, and is positioned as a first-mover in the East Coast zero-waste grocery segment rather than as a high-growth venture-backed operator.
Precycle firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Precycle
- Legal name
- Precycle LLC
- Website
- https://precyclenyc.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Precycle is a Brooklyn-based, founder-owned zero-waste grocery operating two package-free storefronts and same-day delivery across NYC, selling bulk goods, produce, and home goods via tare-weight checkout and a reusable-container return loop to eco-conscious consumers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Precycle industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Zero-Waste Grocery Retail
- NAICS
- Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (424)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Bulk Food & Refill Stores (Package-Free/Zero-Waste) (CRAHAMAA)
Keywords
Where Precycle is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Brooklyn
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Precycle business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- In-store retail grocery sales (package-free): Walk-in retail sales of bulk dry goods, fresh produce, pre-filled reusable containers, home goods, and personal care items at the Bushwick (50 Cypress Ave) and Prospect Heights/Vanderbilt (593 Vanderbilt Ave) locations. Pricing is by weight with tare deducted. Sold per-item with no required membership.
- Online grocery delivery sales: Same-day local delivery (Mon-Fri, orders by 1:30pm) to Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens via precycle.shop; items packed in reusable jars and bags inside a returnable tote, with container pickup on next delivery. Free shipping threshold at $100.
- Marketplace delivery via Mercato: Online ordering and delivery through Mercato (mercato.precyclenyc.com), enabling delivery and pickup in Brooklyn for Precycle inventory.
- Branded merchandise sales (totes, bottles, cups): Direct-to-consumer sales of reusable branded merchandise (e.g., 12oz MiiR Insulated Cup $28.99, 17oz Stainless Steel Water Bottle $19.00, tote bags $25-$50). Shipped via UPS Ground to continental US (excluding Alaska and Hawaii) on precycle.shop.
- In-store gift card sales: Gift cards sold via Square (e.g., Prospect Heights In-Store Voucher gift cards) for in-store redemption.
- Debt-based financing via Honeycomb Credit: Funding raised through a debt crowdfunding campaign on Honeycomb Credit to expand marketing, inventory, and refinance high-interest debt.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | In-store package-free goods priced by weight (container tare subtracted) |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Online grocery delivery (precycle.shop): same-day local delivery Mon-Fri, free shipping at $100 |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Branded merchandise one-time prices |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Reusable container return credit at Vanderbilt location |
Go-to-market motion4 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
Precycle product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Precycle operates zero-waste, package-free grocery stores in Brooklyn selling bulk dry goods, fresh produce, oils, vinegars, spices, personal care, and home goods by weight with container tare deducted at checkout. The model is reinforced by a reusable container return-for-credit program, online same-day local delivery via reusable jars and bags inside returnable totes, and curated branded merchandise, all under a Certified B Corporation framework.
Product overview
Precycle operates a platform of zero-waste, package-free grocery offerings centered on two physical Brooklyn stores (the original Bushwick store at 50 Cypress Ave and the newer Prospect Heights/Vanderbilt store at 593 Vanderbilt Ave) plus digital commerce channels. The unified core is the in-store bulk-and-reusable-container shopping experience, complemented by the Precycle Local Delivery service (precycle.shop, Shopify-powered, delivering plastic-free to Brooklyn/Manhattan/Queens on weekdays), the Precycle Pickup Service (Mercato-powered online ordering for in-store pickup), the Precycle Merchandise & Gift Shop (tote bags, insulated drinkware), and the Precycle Gift Card program (Square-powered, for the Vanderbilt location). Precycle is a Certified B Corporation and is differentiated by its reusable-container return-for-credit program and its rejection of single-use packaging across both grocery and home goods.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Precycle Bushwick Store Original Precycle zero-waste, package-free grocery store at 50 Cypress Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11237, where customers bring or purchase reusable containers and fill bulk dry goods, produce, oils, vinegars, spices, eggs, bulk tofu, and household items by weight; containers are weighed and tared at checkout so customers pay only for the product.
- Precycle Vanderbilt (Prospect Heights) Store Second Precycle location at 593 Vanderbilt Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11238, offering dry goods, produce, and home goods in bulk along with pre-filled reusable containers for a grab-and-go experience; customers can return empty containers for $1 credit per eligible container toward their next purchase.
- Precycle Local Delivery (precycle.shop) Plastic-free grocery delivery service available weekdays (Monday–Friday, orders by 1:30pm) to Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens via the Shopify-powered precycle.shop storefront. Items are packed into reusable jars and bags inside a returnable tote; Precycle picks up empty containers and the tote at the next delivery to wash and sanitize for reuse. No deposits, memberships, or minimums required; free shipping at $100.
- Precycle Pickup Service Online pickup ordering service operated through the Mercato white-label platform, allowing customers to order from Precycle's in-store inventory and pick up the same day at the Brooklyn store.
- Precycle Merchandise & Gift Shop
Quantifiable outcome
- Approximately 1,200 loyalty program sign-ups as of April 2019
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Precycle
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Precycle technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration5 records
Feature5 records
Precycle partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
18 partnerships are on record, tiered core — order management infrastructure, core — online distribution channel, minor — merchandise supplier, minor — celebrity/brand awareness, minor — reseller/dropshipper relationship, core — supply chain packaging partner, minor — sustainable beauty brand stocked at precycle, minor — sustainable cleaning brand stocked at precycle, minor — sustainable home goods stocked at precycle, minor — local produce supplier and minor — community context.
- ChowNowcore — order management infrastructurePrecycle uses the ChowNow online ordering platform for contactless pickup orders since June 2020 during COVID-19, with online payment, email confirmations, and a 10am-7pm pickup window. ChowNow is normally a restaurant ordering system adapted for grocery pickup.
- Mercatocore — online distribution channelPrecycle operates an online grocery storefront on Mercato (mercato.precyclenyc.com) offering delivery and pickup in Brooklyn, NY; this third-party marketplace is a key digital distribution channel alongside precycle.shop.
- MiiRminor — merchandise supplierPrecycle co-brands and resells MiiR insulated drinkware (e.g., 12oz MiiR Insulated Cup $28.99 in 18/8 medical grade stainless steel). Product images and design credited to MiiR (@miir).
- Westman Atelier (Gucci Westman)minor — celebrity/brand awarenessBeauty founder Gucci Westman visited Precycle in November 2021 to film a 'plastic-free grocery haul in Brooklyn' video for Westman Atelier's YouTube channel, providing co-branded content marketing exposure.
- The Wally Shopminor — reseller/dropshipper relationshipZero-waste Instacart-style same-day bike delivery startup (founded by Tamara Lim) that purchases inventory from Precycle to fulfill consumer orders in Brooklyn and Manhattan; charges shoppers a 5% service fee plus delivery and $1 per item for packaging.
- Upstate New York honey producercore — supply chain packaging partnerLocal vendor that takes back honey buckets, supporting Precycle's circular packaging economy; reduces single-use packaging upstream.
- Tofu manufacturer (delivering in refillable 5-gallon buckets)core — supply chain packaging partnerManufacturer that delivers bulk blocks of tofu in five-gallon refillable buckets which it picks up after emptying, eliminating single-use plastic in the tofu supply chain.
- hiBarminor — sustainable beauty brand stocked at precyclePlastic-free shampoo/conditioner brand (sold in 11,000+ US retailers including Precycle); carried at Precycle's Bushwick store and online.
- Fanciful Foxminor — sustainable beauty brand stocked at precycleMother & daughter-owned Brooklyn company making all-natural, hand-crafted skincare products; carried at Precycle's Bushwick store and online.
- Oil + Waterminor — sustainable beauty brand stocked at precycleBrooklyn-based small-batch skincare brand that partners with One Tree Planted; products carried at Precycle Bushwick and online.
- Activist Skincareminor — sustainable beauty brand stocked at precycleVegan, cruelty-free skincare brand with refillable glass containers; stocked at Precycle as part of its clean beauty assortment.
- Klei Beautyminor — sustainable beauty brand stocked at precycleBrooklyn-based earth-friendly, low-waste beauty brand founded in 2017; works only with verified cruelty-free suppliers; featured in Precycle's clean beauty list.
- Bluelandminor — sustainable cleaning brand stocked at precyclePlastic-free cleaning brand (e.g., Toilet Cleaner tablet) sold at Precycle; 4.8/5 star reviews; starter tin and refill packs reduce single-use plastic.
- KLIINminor — sustainable cleaning brand stocked at precycleBrand of reusable cleaning towels (5-pack) sold at Precycle as an eco-conscious alternative to paper towels and synthetic sponges.
- Meliora Cleaning Productsminor — sustainable cleaning brand stocked at precycleSustainable cleaning brand whose Soap Stick Stain Remover (only 5 ingredients) is sold at Precycle; transparent ingredient disclosure.
- Mother Earth (vegan refillable floss)minor — sustainable home goods stocked at precycleVegan charcoal refillable dental floss brand whose products are featured at Precycle as alternatives to conventional nylon floss; breaks down in 60-90 days.
- Tivoli Mushroomsminor — local produce supplierLocal Hudson Valley, NY mushroom supplier whose King Trumpet Mushrooms ($5.99 for 0.25lb) and Blue Oyster Mushrooms ($4.59 for 0.25lb) are featured as Precycle Weekly Specials.
- Open Streets (NYC Open Streets program)minor — community contextThe Vanderbilt store participates in the Open Streets program (May-October), where streets are open to pedestrians and cyclists only, increasing foot traffic to the store.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Precycle competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Imperfect Foods (Misfits Market): Subscription-based sustainable grocery delivery brand that merged with Misfits Market in 2022; focused on reducing food waste. Comparable as a values-aligned, mission-driven D2C grocery delivery competitor.
- Misfits Market: Online sustainable grocery delivery service (Misfits Market absorbed Imperfect Foods) that sells organic produce and pantry staples directly to consumers via subscription and à-la-carte ordering. Comparable in mission-driven D2C grocery and reusable-packaging ethos, though at far larger scale.
- Package Free Shop: Online retailer specializing in zero-waste and plastic-free household, beauty, and pantry essentials. Directly comparable in mission (eliminating single-use packaging), product mix (sustainable home goods), and D2C e-commerce model, though Precycle adds physical retail.
- NadaShop: NYC-based zero-waste, package-free grocery concept offering bulk foods, produce, and home goods in reusable containers, with both retail and online ordering. Most directly comparable peer to Precycle in format, customer base, and operating geography.
- The Wally Shop: Brooklyn-based zero-waste, same-day bike-delivery grocery startup that sources products directly from Precycle's bulk bins and charges shoppers a 5% service fee plus delivery and $1 per item packaging. Operates in the same NYC zero-waste D2C category and is listed in Precycle's own partnerships.
Broad incumbents
- Whole Foods Market: National organic and natural foods retailer (Amazon-owned) with bulk bin sections and increasingly aggressive sustainability commitments. Comparable as the mainstream grocery incumbent whose own plastic-reduction investments define the competitive ceiling for zero-waste specialists like Precycle.
- Thrive Market: Membership-based online retailer of natural, organic, and sustainable groceries and household products. Comparable as a values-aligned online grocery competitor serving eco-conscious households, though at national scale and with packaged rather than bulk-only assortment.
- MOM's Organic Market: Mid-Atlantic chain of certified-organic, sustainability-focused supermarkets with extensive bulk-bin programs, refill stations, and zero-waste initiatives. Comparable as a broader grocery incumbent investing in plastic-free retail, but operating at far larger scale and wider assortment than Precycle.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Precycle social profiles
Digital presencePrecycle compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Precycle financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Precycle leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Precycle funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Precycle M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Precycle
What does Precycle do?
Precycle operates zero-waste, package-free grocery stores in Brooklyn selling bulk dry goods, fresh produce, oils, vinegars, spices, personal care, and home goods by weight with container tare deducted at checkout. The model is reinforced by a reusable container return-for-credit program, online same-day local delivery via reusable jars and bags inside returnable totes, and curated branded merchandise, all under a Certified B Corporation framework.
Is Precycle a public or private company?
Precycle is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Precycle founded?
Precycle was founded in 2015. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Precycle based?
Precycle is headquartered in Brooklyn, United States, in the North America region.
How does Precycle make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. In-store retail grocery sales (package-free) is the primary driver. The others are online grocery delivery sales, marketplace delivery via Mercato, branded merchandise sales (totes, bottles, cups), in-store gift card sales and debt-based financing via Honeycomb Credit.
Who are Precycle's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Imperfect Foods (Misfits Market), Misfits Market, Package Free Shop, NadaShop and The Wally Shop. Broad incumbents are Whole Foods Market, Thrive Market and MOM's Organic Market.
Does Precycle have an API?
No public API is recorded for Precycle.
What industry is Precycle in?
Precycle's product category is Zero-Waste Grocery Retail. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAHAMAA, Bulk Food & Refill Stores (Package-Free/Zero-Waste). Its NAICS code is 424.