Thursday, March 30, 2017
Customers of 25 Metro-owned stores in the Ottawa region will be able to purchase unique products either made or developed in their area. The grocery retailer has launched a pilot project that has 91 new products from 19 different local suppliers being delivered to its Ottawa-area stores. The products are from the deli, dairy, grocery, meat, frozen grocery, bakery and produce categories.
The success of the pilot project will be continuously monitored and evaluated in the coming months and will influence how the program grows and develops in other markets in Ontario, the company said. The ultimate goal will be to have the Local Purchasing Program available across the province. Metro launched the program in Ontario in June 2016.
“The Ottawa pilot project will be the first proof-point in Metro’s commitment to provide easier access to our customers to more local products,” said Joe Fusco, senior vice-president, Metro Ontario. “They will truly appreciate the wide range of unique regional items that we are now able to offer them.”
“We are delighted with Metro’s initiative to put forward products from the Ottawa region under this pilot project that further promotes local seasonal foods and works to help consumers recognize and ask for Ontario-grown foods at their local grocery store,” said Denise Zaborowski, manager, Foodland Ontario. “We hope that these new agreements will benefit the people of Ottawa, suppliers, and in a more general way, the socio-economic development of the region,”
Among the participants in the Metro Local Purchasing Program are enerjive, a local cracker maker, and Francesco’s Coffee.
