Loblaw Cos. said Wednesday that it had acquired Arz Fine Foods, Toroto-based retailer specializing in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern foods.
Arz, whose operations include a 10,000-square-foot retail store, a commercial bakery, a food commissary, and a distribution center, will operate as a separate division of Loblaw.
"This key partnership holds great promise as Canada's Middle Eastern population and the Canadian taste for Middle Eastern food continues to grow," Vicente Trius, Loblaw’s president, said in a statement. "Arz Fine Foods is a trusted Middle Eastern supermarket with strong product expertise. 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 in a very authentic way.”
Loblaw acquired the Asian retailer T&T Supermarkets in 2009 and has since integrated certain items and practices from those stores into its conventional and discount grocery stores.
"This is a tremendous partnership for our family and our business", Armand Boyadjian, co-founder of Arz said. "This acquisition recognizes the commitment of our employees to become a leader in our field. With Loblaw, we will continue to maintain our authenticity and enhance our customer experience and reach. This is a great opportunity to share our passion and products with even more Canadians." Canada's Middle Eastern population represents about 2% and is one of the fastest growing market segments, Loblaw said.
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