In produce, niches can have their rewards, and the ethnic communities and restaurants in Montreal are no exception.
According to Pauline Yan of M&S Produce Inc. of St. Laurent, an importer of Chinese broccoli, bok choy, and a number of other produce items, specialization can be a recipe for success.
“There’s a small Chinese community here,” she said. “Everyone knows each other, and they know we’re bringing in these items for the supermarkets.”
If customers are assured of specific products and know where and when they will be available, it builds loyalty. Yan goes on to say customers come to expect this specialized type of service and also recognize, “We’re the main source for Montreal.”
Immigration has had broader impacts on demand as well.
Joe Lavorato, president of Fruits et Legumes Gaetan Bono Inc. of Montreal, has found this cultural mix is certainly advantageous for those who deal in fresh produce.
“We’re starting to see the effects of immigrants coming into the city [and] it’s helping our sector,” Lavorato said. Many ethnic groups are very produce-centric, and continually seek a broad array of fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs.
Grape expert Douglas Purdy, president of Belmont Fruits of Outremont, QC, agrees: “Montreal has always been a diverse ethnic and European populous, and is still very provincial in its shopping habits.”
The metro area’s residents are also “very supportive of their local fruit stores, bakeries, butchers, cheese, and specialty shops, then the big box outlets.
“By comparison,” Purdy said, “many other Canadian cities, for example Toronto, have adopted the big box one-stop shopping that’s the norm in North America.”
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This is an excerpt from the most recent Produce Blueprints quarterly journal. Click here to read the full article.
