Loblaw acquires ethnic independent

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.

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"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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