Major Craig's, Pete's Gluten-Free putting stock in Whole Foods opening
High-end U.S. retailer strict on foods it sells, focuses on local and organic
Whole Foods Market will shake up the Ottawa grocery landscape when its doors open to the public on Wednesday at Lansdowne Park, and the high-end grocer provides an opportunity for some local farmers targetting a high-end audience.
The American chain, known for its high-end foods and a focus on organic and local, will challenge grocery mainstays such as Farm Boy, Metro, Loblaws and Your Independent Grocer.
- Whole Foods looks for local suppliers for Lansdowne store
- ON MOBILE? Listen to Peter de Hoog and Andrew Craig talk about getting their products stocked
Some small butchers and bakeries, located just down Bank Street, are not too happy about the competition for higher-quality local products. But for locals Peter de Hoog and Andrew Craig, Whole Foods could boost their business.
Whole Foods has chosen products from each of their stock to add to their shelves, de Hoog and Craig told CBC Radio’s Ottawa Morning on Tuesday.
"We’re elated. It’s nice to see a company with such a strong reputation in the market," said de Hoog of Pete’s Gluten-Free, which services 16 other health food stores and retailers.
"They’re going to be a very prevalent, strong customer and maybe our number-one customer."
Strict conditions on ingredients
Whole Foods has strict conditions on ingredients for food sold on its shelves, including no artificial colours or flavours.
For Craig, the chance to feature his products at Whole Foods automatically grabs the eyes of other food retailers. They know homework has already been done on his business and his food, he said.
"The impact that they have on my ability now and just that provenance, that vetting process says: 'This guy’s got the goods,'" said Craig, who owns Major Craig's Chutney.
Both also shooed away any concern about failing to live up to expectations. Whole Foods pledged to work in a continued partnership to develop the products moving forward, Craig added.
The company will also continue to look for new partners after the store opens, as it stated last winter.