Canadian supermarkets
Nov 27th 2014, 2:09 pm
#46
Stand-up Philosopher
Joined: Apr 2009
Location: Regina Saskatchewan
Posts: 16,344
Re: Canadian supermarkets
Trader Joe's should be running an ad campaign bragging how their stuff is so good people are smuggling it into Canada and then when that's over try to have Pirate Joe co-opted and with an established customer base fine tune supply so he has what they want and get him a better price point in Wa to reflect increased volume. Even if they still don't get anything at the retail end at least stock levels in the border stores will be constant again
Nov 28th 2014, 12:06 am
#47
The ride never ends
Joined: Sep 2011
Location: SW Ontario
Posts: 2,481
Re: Canadian supermarkets
There's a Trader Joe's down the road from where I currently live. I'm struggling to work out the attraction. Sure it sells nice enough stuff but I'm not sure what's so good about it that an international export operation needs to be running.
Nov 28th 2014, 12:19 am
#48
Stand-up Philosopher
Joined: Apr 2009
Location: Regina Saskatchewan
Posts: 16,344
Re: Canadian supermarkets
It's all about Kitsilano (Schizilano), if anything is trendy it'll be trendy there. Mountain Equipment clothes, Blundstones, sushi, anything in the glossy magazines. It only works there and only because it's close to a store in the US.
Nov 28th 2014, 4:14 am
#49
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Location: Calgary, Alberta
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Re: Canadian supermarkets
Of course he is, he can't not be, he's selling the same sort of products in the same place, that's just a basic economic fact. They're both selling food, they're both in Vancouver.
Look, it's an Aldi. Aldi is a supermarket, it competes with other supermarkets.
I'm not suggesting that it would, what I'm saying is that for it to even be possible for his business model to work, Canadian supermarkets have got to be perceived to be expensive and not have a particularly good selection. I mean REALLY not have a good selection and be expensive, because let's face it, Aldi ain't that great. 
Obviously 99.99% of Vancouverites aren't shopping there, but that doesn't disprove what I originally said. Just the fact he can make money on the novelty value of something that isn't really a novelty (because you can drive to the actual shop on the other side of the border) tells you something.
Precisely, and that is a hell of a hassle, isn't it? Bringing up carloads of shopping at a time? Yet he makes money on it?
In the US, Trader Joe does, sort of, compete with other supermarkets - it's a bit of a different, kitschy-cool take on the traditional low-cost retailer with lots of private label dry goods.
it's hardly going to dent the business of Wholefoods Warehouse, is it?
Obviously 99.99% of Vancouverites aren't shopping there, but that doesn't disprove what I originally said. Just the fact he can make money on the novelty value of something that isn't really a novelty (because you can drive to the actual shop on the other side of the border) tells you something.
And it's also perfectly obvious from the article that Hallatt is not trying to hide anything from the CBSA. "Hallatt said he never lies at the border, where agents make polite conversation with the pirate they have encountered many times before. [...] The bags of groceries are waived across the border, meticulously logged in the Canadian customs system..."
Nov 28th 2014, 4:20 am
#50
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Re: Canadian supermarkets
The thing is that in a lot of parts of Canada you also have the option of going to the US. I mean I know you can go to France or wherever from the UK and get cheaper booze and fags but walking into Fred Meyer's in Bellingham is like walking into Aladdin's Cave compared to Sobey's or Loblaw's (or Thrifty Foods or The Real Canadian Superstore as they're called in Vancouver). Everything is cheaper, except the stuff in the pharmacy.
Nov 28th 2014, 4:23 am
#51
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Nov 28th 2014, 6:23 am
#52
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Location: SW Ontario
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Re: Canadian supermarkets
I agree...supermarkets way better in the UK. I wish there was an equivalent of M&S food here (I haven't found it if there is) especially at Christmas time 
I have done a big order from a UK outlet selling some UK goodies I would usually buy like Celebrations, Baxters chutneys, Malt Loaf, Thorntons advent calendars that sort of thing! My husband ordered some Cullen Skink soup of all things.... I reckon it's one of those expenses to chalk up to being an expat
I have done a big order from a UK outlet selling some UK goodies I would usually buy like Celebrations, Baxters chutneys, Malt Loaf, Thorntons advent calendars that sort of thing! My husband ordered some Cullen Skink soup of all things.... I reckon it's one of those expenses to chalk up to being an expat
You can get malt loaf at most supermarkets and there are pretty good British shops in Burlington/Mississauga if you are down this way again.
Last edited by Siouxie; Nov 28th 2014 at 6:31 am.
Nov 30th 2014, 2:33 am
#53
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Nov 30th 2014, 2:37 am
#54
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Joined: Jan 2008
Location: Moncton, NB, CANADA
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Re: Canadian supermarkets
Bulk Barn gets a mention every time some elusive Brit stuff is desired. Curly Wurly, club biscuits, walnut whips, Rose's Lime marmalade, Branston pickle etc
Dec 4th 2014, 9:57 pm
#55
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Re: Canadian supermarkets
News to me.
Dec 4th 2014, 10:35 pm
#56
Muskoka, Ontario
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 3,045
Re: Canadian supermarkets
You can get quite a few UK products at the Bulk Barn, if you have one nearby? Products - Bulk Barn
You can get malt loaf at most supermarkets and there are pretty good British shops in Burlington/Mississauga if you are down this way again.
You can get malt loaf at most supermarkets and there are pretty good British shops in Burlington/Mississauga if you are down this way again.
Dec 5th 2014, 7:25 pm
#57
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Re: Canadian supermarkets
Which isn't unusual, other companies who are nearly nationwide seem to stop at Alberta...lol
Dec 5th 2014, 8:13 pm
#58
"In cruce vincam"
Joined: May 2010
Location: Mill Bay, Vancouver Island
Posts: 3,232
Re: Canadian supermarkets
We've them on the Island (at least there's one in Duncan and one in Langford that I know of). I've just scored a 1.25kg tin of quality street and a 750g tub of Celebrations from the guy that runs the UK import wholesalers across from the factory, for $25 the pair! I now owe him some ice cream. Seems only fair.
Dec 5th 2014, 10:10 pm
#59
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Re: Canadian supermarkets
We've them on the Island (at least there's one in Duncan and one in Langford that I know of). I've just scored a 1.25kg tin of quality street and a 750g tub of Celebrations from the guy that runs the UK import wholesalers across from the factory, for $25 the pair! I now owe him some ice cream. Seems only fair.
I venture into them a few times in Ontario, I'd use them here if they ever decide to open a shop up.
I'd also not mind having a Giant Tiger too.