Great Things in Store — Retail Partners
Between 2022 and 2024, Food First NL partnered with six food retailers across Newfoundland and Labrador on pilot projects to improve food access in their communities. We met with retailers and the communities they serve to identify opportunities for change. By working with and listening to community members, we co-designed projects to meet their needs. As these pilot projects wrap up, we’re pleased to share what we learned and the results and impacts so far!
Visit the Great Things in Store page to learn more about the project. Learn more about our six wonderful retail partners in the profiles below.
Flynn’s Clover Farm and Liquor Express
📍 117 Conception Bay Highway, Avondale (view on map)
Flynn’s Clover Farm and Liquor Express is a full-service independent grocery retailer that has been family-owned and operated since 1889.
Pilot Project Description
Flynn’s created an online ordering service that lets customers browse in-stock items and place grocery orders. Customers can choose in-store pickup or home delivery for their groceries.
The service was a huge success and will continue! The owners plan to grow their reach through advertisements and social media.
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Improve food access for people who have difficulty getting to the store (e.g. advanced age, disability, lack of transportation)
Provide accessible grocery delivery in Avondale and surrounding areas
Become a better partner to the communities they serve
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Many folks in the region have trouble accessing fresh, quality, affordable food
Some customers prefer to pick up their orders because they like chatting with people at the store. This is most common for folks who live alone
Many homes in the area don’t have house numbers clearly displayed for delivery drivers — an unexpected challenge
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The community was excited about the project and wanted to participate;
Foot traffic to the store did not decrease when home delivery became an option;
The online ordering service grew a small but steady roster of repeat customers week over week.
Oceanview Convenience Ltd.
📍 128 Marine Drive, Southern Harbour (view on map)
Oceanview Convenience Ltd. opened in 2017 to serve as Southern Harbour’s only convenience store. They sell a wide range of grocery items and offer harder-to-find products for their customers, including sugar-free and gluten-free items.
Pilot Project Description
Oceanview Convenience prepared single-serving portions of meats and vegetables to sell in-store for folks living alone or in small households.
They plan to expand the project to offer fresh beef and more produce variety at the store. Their vision for the future includes a committee of businesses working together for fair food prices.
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Improve choice in food shopping by offering smaller, more affordable portions
Reduce food waste with portions that are more likely to be enjoyed before spoiling
Improve food security in the Southern Harbour area
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Single-person households and seniors prefer smaller portions of fresh food that are less likely to spoil;
Feedback from customers and the community is key in making sure the foods people want are being offered regularly;
Knowledge of butchering techniques and portion sizes for meats and vegetables.
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Customers felt empowered to ask for new foods, including vegan and gluten-free options;
Business increased thanks to more community engagement;
There was less food waste being produced at the store;
Customers reported benefits to their overall well-being;
The project sparked an interest in partnering with other retailers to address high food costs.
Ray’s by K & D Grocery Ltd.
📍 265 Paradise Road, Paradise (view on map)
Ray’s by K & D Grocery Ltd. is a small family-owned convenience store serving the Town of Paradise for more than 42 years. Since early 2020, they have operated as a “One Stop Window Shop,” using a physically distanced, no-contact service model.
Pilot Project Description
Ray’s created a plan to make affordable, fully prepared meals in-house from local ingredients. Some portions will be frozen and sold as microwavable meals.
Their commercial kitchen is ready for its final inspection. They plan to provide meals in mid-2024 and hope to offer home delivery in the future.
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Improve the well-being of the community with affordable, quality meals
Improve access to foods produced and prepared in the community
Increase knowledge of what is grown and available locally
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The community is excited to get involved with the project
Local food producers want to make new business connections that help communities thrive
The steps to becoming a licensed kitchen, with the support of the Town of Paradise
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Community enthusiasm for the pilot project was high
Partnerships with local food producers provided more fresh local ingredients while reducing the need to import food
The project directly influenced by-law changes in the Town of Paradise supporting community gardens
Spruce Meadow Farms
📍 #540 Route 520, Happy Valley - Goose Bay (view on map)
Spruce Meadow Farms is a commercial farm and grocery distributor. They sell home-grown and imported fresh produce throughout the year. They also ship food to seven Northern Labrador communities through the Nutrition North Program.
Pilot Project Description
Spruce Meadow Farms created a weekly service that trucked fresh produce from Québec to customers on Labrador’s South Coast.
The project stopped after 13 weeks because of high fuel costs and staffing. However, they want to identify ways around these challenges and eventually continue the project with committed retailers.
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Improve access to fresh, high-quality, and affordable produce in Southern Labrador
Increase knowledge of what is grown and available locally
Improve the self-sufficiency of food distribution in Southern Labrador
Increase food security in the region by directly distributing fresh, quality foods
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As in the North, fresh food in Southern Labrador is expensive and doesn’t last long before spoiling
Folks in Labrador are excited to have access to high-quality, fresh foods that meet their needs
Many food retailers are concerned about maintaining their businesses long-term when high-quality foods are difficult and expensive to import
Travelling long distances and high fuel costs are the main challenges in bringing quality, affordable food to remote communities
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Customers enjoyed the produce quality and affordability
Folks who live in low-income and Indigenous households benefitted most from this direct distribution
More competition prompted large retailers to lower their prices
St. Barbe Consumers Co-operative Society Ltd.
📍 155 Viking Trail, Flowers Cove (view on map)
St. Barbe Consumers Co-Operative Society is a full-service grocery store, gas station, and hardware store.
Pilot Project Description
The Co-Op created a process to portion, vacuum-seal, and freeze produce that arrived with a short shelf life. The frozen fruits and vegetables were sold as smoothie and soup packs at a more affordable price.
The Co-Op Team is looking at different opportunities to reduce food waste by freezing and vacuum-packing produce.
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Reduce food waste from long travel times to the Northern Peninsula
Improve access to affordable fresh foods that might otherwise go to waste
Raise awareness of sustainable ways to feed communities
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Many stores in the area have closed in recent years, leaving few options to purchase quality food in the area
The Northern Peninsula is home to many folks living in low-income households who struggle to afford fresh food
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The Co-op produced less food waste
Customers said they could access fruits and vegetables more easily
Customers felt empowered to request new products
Three Mile Ridge
📍 345 Discovery Trail, Lethbridge (view on map)
Three Mile Ridge is a family-oriented farm and on-farm market. Krista, the farm owner, also mentors new farmers, gives farm tours, and operates a vegetable U-pick.
Pilot Project Description
Three Mile Ridge developed a local food delivery service for customers in Lethbridge and the surrounding area. Every month, they mailed out lists of what was available from the farm. Customers could order by mail or phone.
The delivery service was a big success and will continue in 2024. One day, Krista hopes to offer home delivery to the entire Bonavista Peninsula.
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Deliver fresh, locally grown food directly to homes in Lethbridge and the surrounding area
Improve access to fresh, quality food for people experiencing barriers (e.g. reliable transportation, advanced age, or disability)
Increase the self-sufficiency of the food system and food security on the Bonavista Peninsula
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Delivery is the only option for some folks (e.g. those who have busy schedules, are without reliable transportation, are living with a disability, or are living in assisted care)
The project received orders from communities up to an hour’s drive away thanks to word of mouth and shares on social media
Online ordering would reduce operating costs while increasing accessibility. This would help the service run more efficiently.
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Folks were pleased at the affordability of the fresh food offered
Improving community access to fresh, local food was more meaningful for Krista personally than the increase she saw in sales
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Specific questions about the project? Contact us at info@foodfirstnl.ca or call and leave a message at (709) 237-4026
