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Windsor Ontario News / Food & RetailTim's stops serving fake meat
WindsorOntarioNews.com Jan 29 2020 So much for fake meat. Tim Hortons has killed off the product after a nine month experiment. A visitor to an east side Tim Hortons this week, seeking a Beyond Meat breakfast sandwich, was told the chain is no longer selling the product. The product, along with other meatless meat versions at different fast food chains, was hailed with much fanfare when announced last June. “Canadians are hungry to try our breakfast sandwiches made with Beyond Meat’s 100% plant based sausage patty,” Mike Hancock, Chief Operations Officer, said. “We’ve listened to our guests and are excited to be able to offer three delicious breakfast sandwiches that vegans, vegetarians, flexitarians and meat lovers can feel good about.” The meatless concept has been praised by groups outside the restaurant industry, including vegetarians and environmentalists, for using plant-based sources instead of animals and putting less stress on the environment. Animal rights activists had named Beyond Meat company of the year. But Tim Hortons this week said the sandwiches had been introduced as a limited time offer. “We may offer Beyond Meat again in the future,” the chain said. The Washington Examiner said this is the latest blow to the much touted Beyond Meat enterprise. The Los Angeles company, whose slogan is “The Future of Protein”, has seen its stocks plunge 50 per cent since its peak last summer when the product was widely praised as the future of meat. It lost another four per cent Tuesday. According to the Examiner, Burger King has also had trouble selling its substitue meat burger, made by Impossible Foods, a Beyond Meat competitor. Only 20 such burgers were sold in a day, one franchise owner bemoaned.
No bricks and mortar pot stores, no worry, OCS says
WindsorOntarioNews.com August 21 2018 When marijuana is legalized for recreational use Oct. 17 many marijuana consumers may be disappointed to find that the one bricks and mortar store once slated for Windsor won’t exist. That’s because the new Progressive Conservative Government of Rob Ford has changed the business model for cannabis sales.
New Cascades casino will focus on gambling - and families
WindsorOntarioNews.com July 13 2018 The owners of the new Cascades casino going into Chatham are defining themselves different from traditional casino operators, and that means putting as much emphasis on family entertainment as on gambling. British-Columbia based Gateway Casinos & Entertainment aims to create a “fulsome” entertainment experience, Gateway spokesman Rob Mitchell says. “Gaming is vital to our business but not exclusive to it.”
After six year absence Columbia Sportswear is back in town
WindsorOntarioNews.com May 7 2018 After a several year absence Columbia Sportswear Company has returned to the Windsor market, and in a bigger way. The outdoors sportwear firm that had long occupied premises next to the Ambassador Plaza on Windsor’s Huron Church Road has re-opened in LaSalle. The outlet closed six years ago but has now moved into the Windsor Crossing Premium Outlets mall off Hwy. 3. Family takes back Italia Bakery
WindsorOntarioNews Sept 22 2017 The iconic Italia Bakery on Erie Street is no more; instead it’s Mancini’s Italia Bakery. The bakery, after closing temporarily, has now reopened under management of the original Mancini family, which had owned it since 1974.
Consumers, experts agree - canned beer is better than the bottled variety
WindsorOntarioNews.com August 29 2017 When it comes to the best container for a cold one, cans are increasingly winning out over bottles. Both The Beer Store and the LCBO report increased sales of cans versus the one time ubiquitous bottle. “In our publicly available stewardship report for calendar 2016, packaged beer sales of common product were split at 54% bottles and 46% cans,” Bill Walker, The Beer Store’s spokesman, told WON.com.
Only Loblaw-bannered stores have online shopping in Windsor area
WindsorOntarioNews.com July 28 2017 The grocery industry is changing quickly, especially with Amazon’s acquisition of Whole Foods, sending traditional grocers, including those in Canada, scrambling to shore up their competitive edge. That means investing in online ordering and pickup and delivery. In Windsor and Leamington, the only places you can shop online so far are for stores under the Loblaw brand – and the service is pick-up only.
Price difference at the checkout counter? You have protection
WindsorOntarioNews.com June 27 2017 Was the scanned price of an item at the supermarket cash not what you though it would cost? You have some protection. Most major grocery and non-grocery retailers follow what’s known as the Scanner Price Accuracy Voluntary Code.
In a first, Windsor and county BIAs team to market to American shoppers
WindsorOntarioNews.com May 23 2017 For the first time the city and county BIAs are teaming up to pitch to Americans just how great Windsor-Essex is as an area in which to play and shop. The campaign - which includes traditional media ads in newspapers and radio as well as on online sites like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram – will intersperse various of the city’s BIAs along with county business associations.
With rising prices, Dollarama's opting for credit cards might make sense
WindsorOntarioNews.com May 5 2017 Dollarama is finally allowing you to charge your purchase with a credit card. Customers might think that only makes sense given the steady rise – if only by a few bucks – of many Dollarama products in recent years. It’s also good merchandising strategy, say retail analysts. Until recently, the Montreal-based chain, which actually dates to a family store in 1910 - has only accepted cash or debit.
Privacy a non-issue as Canada Post helps advertisers target customers
WindsorOntarioNews.com March 6 2017 Canada Post is now helping businesses attract preferred customers through the use of postal codes. But customers shouldn’t be concerned about losing their privacy, Canada Post says. Up to now companies could send brochures or flyers to customers by identifying letter carrier routes, but this could be overly broad in scope.
"Delicious" non-alcoholic wine, beer
WindsorOntarioNews.com January 12 2017 An up and coming Toronto-based company wants non-alcoholic wine and beer to be as delicious as the real thing. Hill Street Beverage Co. is bottling several private label wines but is best known for its MADD Virgin Drinks brand, which offers several types of wine, champagne and beer. The MADD product is widely available at Shoppers Drug Marts and is carried in some 3000 stores across Canada, CEO Terry Donnelly said.
"About" grocery express checkouts
WindsorOntarioNews.com Sept. 8 2016 A Detroit Area supermarket is doing away with signage indicating the exact number of items allowed through the express checkout. But the trend doesn’t seem to be catching on in Canada. Kroger’s is introducing signs saying “about 15 items” rather than “15 items or less” or some other number.
Store connects artists with customers
WindsorOntarioNews.com July 22 2016 A Windsor store is on the cutting edge in giving artists a place to sell their work. The Urban Art Market, which opened in January, solved the problems of where artists can display and sell work when they otherwise might not be able to afford a storefront.
Dollar Tree Canada versus Dollarama
WindsorOntarioNews.com June 21 2016 It’s the price guarantee that might stand out more than anything. Unlike one of its main competitors, Dollarama, Vancouver-based Dollar Tree Canada sells every item in the store for $1.25 – and $1.25 only. It’s such an important marketing tool that Dollar Tree posts separate window signs advertising that fact.
There's a new grocery sheriff in Towne
WindsorOntarioNews.com May 26 2016 There’s a new sheriff - a grocery sheriff - in town and she plans to shake things up. She’s Jennifer Hazelton, and she’s the new owner of Westside Foods in Olde Sandwich Towne. Hazelton and her dad Robert bought the Westside grocery almost a year ago and have slowly been making changes.
Not just awesome, it's Hawesome
WindsorOntarioNews.com April 8 2016 It’s an awesome name for a candy shop. In fact, it’s the Hawesome Candy Shop and it’s located in LaSalle. The shop, with a decided “retro” product line, opened about a year ago and is soon to expand its hours. It’s located on Front Road in a building that used to be a restaurant serving Mediterranean food.
Iconic LL Bean store coming to area
WindsorOntarioNews.com March 8 2016 The venerable LL Bean outdoor wear and merchandise store is coming to the Detroit area. The Maine-based LL Bean, which dates from 1912, will open a 14,000 sq. ft. store this summer at the Mall of Partridge Creek. This will be a full retail store and not an outlet, said LL Bean spokesman Mac McKeever.
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Mikhail has "no interest" in doing business in A'burg
Amherstburg’s largest taxpayer, developer Joe Mikhail, says he has no interest in doing business in the river town. “I have no interest at this time in doing business in Amherstburg,” said the man whose company Mikhail Holdings developed and owns the Walmart plaza as well as the Sobeys location. Mikhail was miffed after Amherstburg town council deferred his proposal to build a Wendy’s fast food restaurant, also on the Sobeys property. The outlet could have employed 50 people. The developer said the deferral will take too long as construction needed to start by Sept. 1. Mikhail said he pays hundreds of thousands of dollars in taxes to the town each year. “We’re the largest taxpayer there.” Council, agreeing with the concerns raised by Sobeys over traffic volumes, had a problem with putting the restaurant on a corner of the existing Sobeys parking lot alongside the store entrance from Sandwich St. (photo above) But town administration had recommended rezoning and proponents said the issue could have been worked out in site plan control. Said Mikhail: “There’s other communities that will more than welcome me and my investments.” – 8/15/18
City ponders blanket holiday biz exemption
The city is proposing to liberate businesses from having to apply for an exemption to open on a public holiday. Up to now the process was cumbersome and often ineffective. A business had to apply and submit $200, a newspaper notice posted, and 30 days later a public meeting took place. Then there was a 30-day waiting period, a specific bylaw for each business had to be drafted, and a 30-day appeal period took place. “The case-by-case exemption system operated by the City has proven to be difficult to enforce and time consuming,” a staff report says to city council says. As well, few challenges were made and there have been complaints about lack of enforcement. “In most cases, the cost of enforcement far outweighs any fine amounts that may be gained through active holiday enforcement.” However, under the Retail Business Holidays Act the city can exempt businesses in the entire municipality. If council agrees all retailers would “have equal opportunity to open if they choose to.” Should those businesses’ employees choose not to work they are protected by provincial employment standards legislation. – 7/16/18
Downtown Windsor levy well above others
The 2018 tax levies for the city’s nine business improvement areas have been set. The Downtown BIA, not surprisingly, has a levy well and above any of the others - $564,900. Erie Street – Via Italia comes second at $100,000. It’s followed by Wyandotte Towne Centre at $94,000. Next in line is Ottawa Street at $71,965, then Olde Sandwich Towne $67,100, Olde Riverside Towne Centre $65,000, Olde Walkerville $45,000, Ford City $28,800 and Pillette Village $27,500. The money is levied on businesses within the BIA and is used for such purposes as local promotion, newsletters and beautification. – 6/21/18
No Frills - a surreal shopping experience
Who’d ever equate No Frills with surreal shopping? Yet a new television commercial does just that, showing shoppers flying and doing somersaults through the aisles of their local No Frills. The discount chain, owned by Loblaw, has also come out with a word to describe a typical No Frills shopper: Hauler. Yeah, someone who hauls. But also, apparently, someone who is frugal – in a good sense – and someone who doesn’t fall for frills. Trying to create a shopping culture, a kind of reverse snobbery approach to high end grocery stores, the chain is even selling themed merchandise like T-shirts. After all, No Frills says, upscale groceries with their chic blackboards and pyramid-stacked produce doesn’t convert into low grocery bills. And, yes, even minivans make an appearance, since an ideal Hauler also drives one. But we advise not to do what actors in the No Frills lot do. – 22/5/18
Hate cooking for Christmas? You can pre-order dinner
Fed up with the time and effort to prepare Christmas dinner? There are few choices locally for people who’d just like to chuck it and simply pick up a pre-cooked meal for the big day. One of those is Windsor’s Creekside Market, located at City Market on Walker Rd. The meals are pre-cooked and feature turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole or corn, a bun and a slice of pumpkin pie, and priced at $14 including tax. Owner Sharon Mickle says she prefers if people pre-order (519-980-1863). “But I also have some turkey dinners ready for customers that just walk in.” Jeff White of Just Jeff's Gourmet Express on Howard Ave. has also been offering prepared meals, and says this year's "menu and pricing should be posted by mid month." – 10/11/17
Thank warmer temps for earlier peaches
If you though baskets of peaches at the grocers as early as the first week of August were a little early this year, you’re right. Higher than warmer temperatures resulted in delicious Ontario peaches getting to grocery shelves before they usually do. “The peach crop in 2017 was slightly early this year due to warm temperatures,” says Kathryn Carter, fruit crop specialist with the Ontario agriculture ministry. However, cooler temperatures this month “have shifted” the harvest back into line with an average year. Growers are currently picking Red Haven. The majority of Ontario peaches are fresh market and there are 5,000 acres of orchards in southwestern Ontario and Niagara. – 18/8/17
Wal-Mart Photo lawsuit? You may be eligible
Were you the victim of a data breach using Wal-Mart Photocentre and, for example, incurred fraudulent charges on your credit card? You’re eligible to apply for compensation under a court settlement to victims of the “data security incident”, says the Canadian Merchant Law Group. You would have to have used the Wal-Mart Photocentre website between June 1 2014 and July 10 2015. Out-of-pocket expenses would be compensated at the rate of $15/hour for five hours “spent remedying the losses,” Merchant Law says. You’d have to present documents to back your claim. If no documents, you may receive $15/hour for up to two hours. There’s $400,000 in the overall pot with money dispersed on a first-come basis. The agreement also provides funds for free credit monitoring services. Claims and more information can be obtained at www.walmartphotosettlement.com. – 27/6/17
A bistro in a grocery
A bistro in a supermarket? It seems all the rage though not, alas, in Windsor. Never fear. If you want that continental touch after buying the tomatoes and paper towels (a green product of course) you can go to the new Whole Foods Market opening at 2100 East Maple in Birmingham, Mi. in August. Cafes are popping up in other groceries elsewhere and the bistro concept has proved a hit. “This is without a doubt the most popular type of venue we put in our new stores,” Whole Foods’ Scott Salsbury told the Detroit Free Press. – 4/5/17
Two local festivals make the grade
Two local festivals have made Festivals & Events Ontario’s Top 12 list of provincial “food and food-themed” events. The LaSalle Strawberry Festival, entering its 30th year, runs June 8 – 11 and features a carnival, parade, live entertainment and vendors. And the 42nd annual Tecumseh Corn Festival runs Aug 24 – 27, and hosts a “spectacular variety of family entertainment, contests,” says the non-profit Kitchener-based organization that promotes festivals. There are some 100 provincial festivals with food themes, the organization, which also markets and provides education, says. – 8/4/17
Air Miles quite contrite
Air Miles got into a lot of hot water when it decided not to honor customers’ points beyond five years. But just two days after it appeared before an Ontario legislative committee examining cancellation policies for loyalty programs, the company’s parent LoyaltyOne, switched gears and decided to allow the points after all. In an email to customers, Air Miles’ head Blair Cameron was quite contrite. He said Canada’s “favourite loyalty program” did not “live up” to that standard. “2016 was a challenging year, and we learned very difficult, public and humbling lessons,” he said. Cameron said Air Miles going forward in fact will be improving services for wait times and the “online experience.” – 15/3/17