Loblaw Co. is branching out into Middle Eastern foods with its purchase of Arz Fine Foods.
Toronto-based Arz is a Middle Eastern grocery store that will operate as a unique operating division of Loblaw.
Read: Private equity buys Safeway for $9B
People of Middle Eastern descent make up about 2% of Canada’s population, and are among the fastest-growing market segments.
“The combination of Arz Fine Foods and Loblaw will follow the same approach used with our T&T business, which introduced ethnic expertise and products into our broader business,” says Vicente Trius, president, Loblaw Companies Limited.
Read: Bitcoin trading floor pops up in NYC grocery store
Founded in 1989 by the Boyadjian family, Arz Fine Foods began as a specialty bakery and has since grown to include deli, fresh produce, halal meat, groceries and ready to eat foods. The purchase includes a 10,000-square-foot retail store, commercial bakery, food commissary, and distribution centre.
Loblaw plans to provide customers across the country with more Middle Eastern products in the coming months.