T&T Supermarket

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T&T Supermarket
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryRetail
Founded1993; 31 years ago (1993)
FounderCindy Lee
HeadquartersRichmond, British Columbia
Number of locations
33 stores[1]
Key people
Tina Lee (CEO)
ProductsGrocery
ParentTawa Supermarket Inc. and Uni-President Enterprises Corporation (Joint venture, 1993-2009)
Loblaw Companies
(2009–present)
Websitetntsupermarket.com

T&T Supermarket (Chinese: 大統華; pinyin: dà tǒng húa; lit. 'Big United China')[2][3] is a Canadian supermarket chain that sells primarily Asian foods, including fresh produce, meat, seafood, and Asian packaged goods. It also sells kitchenware and gifts, and has in-store kitchens and bakeries.[4] T&T Supermarkets was founded in Vancouver in 1993 by Cindy Lee. It is currently led by CEO Tina Lee, who succeeded her mother in 2014.[5] In 2009, T&T Supermarkets was acquired by Loblaw Companies Limited.[6]

The stores range in size from 35,000 sq ft (3,300 m2) to 74,000 sq ft (6,900 m2). In addition to the many departments found in a regular supermarket, most T&T stores also have an in-house bakery, an Asian deli, a sushi and Chinese barbecue department. T&T Supermarket currently has 33 stores in Canada. In 2020, they launched an online shopping platform and an app.[7] T&T Supermarket is set to open its first store in the United States, located in Bellevue, Washington. The new store, spanning 76,000 square feet, will be the largest Asian supermarket in the state and will serve as T&T Supermarket's flagship store in the United States.[8]

"T&T" is a reference to Cindy Lee's eldest daughters, Tina and Tiffany,[9] as well as the two joint venture investors that founded the supermarket chain in 1993, Tawa Supermarket Inc. and Uni-President Enterprises Corporation, whose Chinese name is pronounced "Tung-yee".[10]

History[edit]

Establishment[edit]

The chain had been created as a joint venture of Uni-President Enterprises Corporation, one of Taiwan's ten largest conglomerates; Tawa Supermarket Inc., a California-based chain of Asian supermarkets; and a group of Canadian investors. Founder Cindy Lee is a Taiwanese-Canadian who started the business with one store in 1993.[11]

Exploitation lawsuit[edit]

The interior of a T&T store

On March 5, 2007, The Tyee reported a case of a foreign temporary worker who claimed to have been exploited, and had his passport seized by T&T Supermarket. According to The Tyee's coverage, "In a notice of claim filed with the small claims division of the provincial court of British Columbia, Gui Qiang Zou claims he was pressured into working longer hours for lower wages than promised after the firm kept his passport and other key documents."[12]

Acquisition by Loblaw[edit]

T&T is part of Loblaw Companies, which purchased it in July 2009 for $225 million in consideration, consisting of $191 million in cash and $34 million in preferred shares.[13] The consideration paid above and beyond the tangible asset base of the company (i.e. the accounting goodwill) which was estimated at $180 million.[14]

Expansion[edit]

With rapid expansion, T&T is Canada's largest Asian supermarket chain.[15] It has thirteen stores in British Columbia (all in Metro Vancouver), one in Quebec, seven in Alberta (four in Calgary and three in Edmonton), and ten stores in Ontario (eight in the Greater Toronto Area, one in Waterloo, and one in Ottawa).[4] T&T Supermarket is set to open its first store in the United States, located in Bellevue, Washington.[8]

Launch of T&T brand and rewards program[edit]

In 2012, T&T launched its own T&T brand, a collection of private label products such as crackers, dumplings, cakes, pastries, green tea and marinade sauce.[16] The company also started a rewards program for its customers who can collect points and redeem them in-store for gifts.

Unionization issues[edit]

Huff Post Business Canada reported on July 17, 2012 that workers at a T&T Supermarket warehouse in Scarborough, Ontario, would head to a secret ballot vote on Monday, July 23, 2012 for unionization. The United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) filed an application for certification with the Ontario Labour Relations Board on July 16, 2012. According to UFCW national representative Kevin Shimmin, the workers at the T&T Supermarket Scarborough warehouse, are seeking unionization to attempt improving scheduling issues as well as tying wage more closely to seniority, instead of favouritism. Shimmin gave in the article an example that Warehouse staffs at T&T Supermarket are working a 39-hour work week, spanning six days in a week. He also pointed out that there are cases where staff have been working for T&T Supermarket for three years and are still earning a minimum wage of $10.25 per hour. Paul Ho, marketing manager for the grocery chain in Ontario, said he did not have details about wages, but maintained that work hours "vary from individual to individual, and depends on the production schedule."[17]

The Globe and Mail reported on July 23, 2012 the result of T&T Supermarket Scarborough warehouse staff unionization. About 100 employees at the T&T Scarborough warehouse voted in the secret ballot vote on Monday July, 23. However, the Ontario Labour Relations Board sealed the ballot box for review. Dispute arose as the UFCW and T&T Supermarket argued about the eligibility of the voters in the voter list. UFCW national representative Kevin Shimmin said that the dispute caused the secret ballot vote to be reviewed, while Cindy Lee, founder at T&T Supermarket claimed that it was the decision of the Ontario Labour Relations Board to look into whether the union has enough support from employees to in the first place file the application.[18]

Largest T&T store and development of e-commerce platform[edit]

T&T at Fairview Mall in Toronto (2023)

In 2018, T&T opened a 74,000 sq. ft. flagship store in Richmond, British Columbia, which was the first to have a live seafood bar, an Asian street food station, and self-checkouts. Industry experts dubbed the store a "grocerant" because of its restaurant-style offering.[19][20]

In 2020, T&T launched its e-commerce platform, facilitating online order and delivery of Asian food products across most provinces in Canada.[21][22]

On May 18, 2023, T&T opened a 36,000 sq. ft. location at Fairview Mall in Toronto.[23][24] In June, the company announced that they would open their first store in the United States at the Marketplace at Factoria in Bellevue, Washington, a suburb of Seattle. The store, a former Walmart location, is 76,000 square feet (7,100 m2) and is scheduled to open in 2024.[25] This would mark the return of Loblaw Companies to the United States after a 28-year absence following its sale of National Supermarkets.

Locations[edit]

British Columbia[edit]

The front entry of the T&T Supermarket at Marine Gateway in Vancouver, British Columbia

Alberta[edit]

  • Calgary (4) – Pacific Place Mall, Harvest Hills Crossing, Deerfoot Meadows and Sage Hill Plaza
  • Edmonton (3) – West Edmonton Mall, North Town Centre and South Edmonton

Ontario[edit]

The entrance of T&T Supermarket Warden Store in Markham, Ontario
The front entrance of the T&T Supermarket College Store in Toronto, Ontario

Quebec[edit]

The entrance to T&T Supermarket Store in Montreal, Québec

Former locations[edit]

T&T had two stores in Toronto which have closed:

  • The Cherry Street location closed on January 30, 2020 with the redevelopment of the Port Lands after operating for 12 years.[31]
  • The Milliken Crossings location (Middlefield and Steeles) closed in 2015 and now houses another Asian retailer.[32]

Awards[edit]

In 2018, the Retail Council of Canada awarded the Canadian Grand Prix Trailblazer Lifetime Achievement Award to founder Cindy Lee and CEO Tina Lee for having "demonstrated outstanding service and dedication to the Canadian retail and grocery industry."[33][34] Cindy Lee received the lifetime achievement award at the 2019 Chinese Canadian entrepreneur awards in recognition of her contributions to the Chinese Canadian business community.[35]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "T&T Supermarket Store Location". T&T Supermarket.
  2. ^ "DA TUNG HUA Chinese Character Design — 1067488". Canadian Trademark Details. Government of Canada. Retrieved November 12, 2021. The English translation as provided by the applicant is BIG UNITED CHINA
  3. ^ 關於我們 [About us]. www.tntsupermarket.com (in Traditional Chinese). Retrieved March 15, 2023.
  4. ^ a b "T & T Supermarket – T&T Supermarket". T&T Supermarket. Retrieved November 10, 2018.
  5. ^ "T&T Supermarket CEO passes the torch". Canadian Grocer. Retrieved March 4, 2020.
  6. ^ "Loblaw buying T&T Asian food chain". CBC News. Retrieved July 24, 2009.
  7. ^ "T&T Supermarket just launched a brand new app across Canada". Daily Hive. Retrieved April 1, 2021.
  8. ^ a b Toneguzzi, Mario (June 8, 2023). "T&T Supermarkets Expanding into the US with 1st Store". Retail Insider. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
  9. ^ Devlin, Megan (January 12, 2024). ""For the next generation": T&T Supermarkets CEO on store's viral origin story". Daily Hive. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
  10. ^ Eade, Ron (October 2, 2009). "T&T arrives with a bang". The Ottawa Citizen. Archived from the original on November 29, 2014. Retrieved November 19, 2014.
  11. ^ "How the CEO of Canada's Largest Asian Supermarket Took the Lead on COVID". MONTECRISTO. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
  12. ^ Sandborn, Tom (March 5, 2007). "Tricked and Exploited?". The Tyee.
  13. ^ "Loblaw buying T&T Asian food chain". CBC News. July 24, 2009. Archived from the original on July 25, 2009.
  14. ^ "2009 Third Quarter Report" (PDF). Loblaw Companies. p. 22. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 13, 2012. Retrieved March 4, 2012.
  15. ^ "Loblaw buys Asian grocery chain". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved March 4, 2020.
  16. ^ "Loblaw Expands Private Brand Portfolio And Introduces the T&T Brand". Archived from the original on March 27, 2013. Retrieved March 4, 2020.
  17. ^ "T&T Union Certification: Asian Grocer's Warehouse Workers In Scarborough, Ontario Seek Certification". Huffington Post Canada. July 17, 2012. Archived from the original on July 21, 2012.
  18. ^ Strauss, Marina (July 23, 2012). "Loblaw locked in labour dispute at Asian supermarket chain". The Globe and Mail.
  19. ^ "T&T unveils flagship store in Richmond". Canadian Grocer. Retrieved March 4, 2020.
  20. ^ "Canada's largest T&T Supermarket opens in Metro Vancouver". Straight. Retrieved March 4, 2020.
  21. ^ "T&T launches e-grocery". Canadian Grocer. Retrieved March 4, 2020.
  22. ^ "T&T Supermarket launches online ordering and home delivery across Canada". DailyHive. Retrieved March 4, 2020.
  23. ^ "T&T Supermarket Brings 'Food Hall' Energy to CF Fairview Mall" (Press release). May 18, 2023. Archived from the original on May 25, 2023.
  24. ^ Shelley Carroll [@shelleycarroll] (May 18, 2023). "#DonValleyNorth is home to a brand new T&T Supermarket at Fairview Mall, a great destination for some amazing Asian eats! Thank you to the team at Cadillac Fairview, T&T, and this little adorable celebrity! 💚" (Tweet). Archived from the original on May 25, 2023 – via Twitter.
  25. ^ Thompson, Joey (June 8, 2023). "Asian supermarket chain T&T taps Bellevue for first US location". Puget Sound Business Journal. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
  26. ^ "T&T Supermarket set to expand to London, Ontario in 2024".
  27. ^ Doradea, Karen (May 4, 2023). "T&T Supermarket to open new Toronto location this month & will have new food offerings". Curiocity. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  28. ^ "T&T Supermarkets is bringing its iconic shopping experience and selection to downtown Toronto with a second location".
  29. ^ "T&T Asian Supermarket Has Chosen Its Montreal Location & It'll be the Biggest in Canada". January 21, 2022.
  30. ^ MacDonald, Thomas (December 15, 2022). "Montreal's First T&T Asian Grocery Store Is Now Open & It's Freakin Ginormous". MTL Blog. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
  31. ^ Hatherly, Tara (December 20, 2019). "T&T Supermarket closing Cherry Street store in Toronto". Toronto.com. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  32. ^ Miller, Adam. "Loblaws announces closure of T&T Supermarket in Scarborough". Global News. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  33. ^ "T&T Supermarket's Cindy and Tina Lee to Receive Prestigious 2018 RCC Grand Prix Trailblazer Lifetime Achievement Award". Retail Insider. Retrieved March 4, 2020.
  34. ^ "T&T Supermarkets' Cindy and Tina Lee receive RCC's 2018 Canadian Grand Prix Trailblazer Lifetime Achievement Award". Retail Council of Canada. Retrieved March 4, 2020.
  35. ^ "2019 Awards Winners". ACCE. Retrieved March 5, 2020.

External links[edit]

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