The Government of Ontario is recognizing 61 grocery stores across the province for their innovative promotion of fresh Ontario food as part of the 2022 Foodland Ontario Retailer Awards program.
“Congratulations to this year’s winners and to everyone who sent in a submission. These efforts in showcasing products grown here in Ontario are a staple in driving awareness of our agri-food sector,” said Lisa Thompson, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. “Buying Ontario grown and produced products directly supports our farmers, processors and other businesses across our food supply chain and helps create jobs, strengthen communities and our provincial economy.”
For more than 35 years, the Foodland Ontario Retailer Awards have celebrated the dedication and creativity expressed by grocery stores across the province for their unique and innovative displays that promote locally grown food. Between June and July, awards will be presented to winning grocery stores to honour the efforts of staff and produce managers to promote all the good things that grow in Ontario.
“Promoting Ontario food is critical to supporting our farm families, processors and entire agri-food value chain,” said Matthew Rae, MPP for Perth-Wellington. “The Foodland Ontario Retailer Awards celebrate the best of the best in the promotion of these products, and the Mount Forest location has provided top tier delivery of this initiative when it comes to showcasing Ontario grown products and encouraging consumer awareness.”
As part of this annual program, retailers can enter their displays that promote locally grown and in-season fruits and vegetables into four categories. The annual Foodland Ontario Retailer Awards are the produce industry’s premier competition for excellence in retail display and promotion in support of local Ontario foods.
“We know our customers love local. When we/our team puts the effort into building displays featuring local products it makes our customers happy in their purchase knowing they are supporting local farmers,” said Luigi and Kim Catalano, owners of Foodland – Mount Forest. “We put the effort into creating these displays because we want to support our community and showcase the amazing products our local farms grow. In turn, it builds a sense of contribution among our staff. Along with our entire staff at the Mount Forest Foodland, we would like to thank and congratulate our outstanding produce team.”
Award Categories:
Foodland Ontario Award of Excellence celebrates Ontario retailers that have won the Platinum All Seasons Award two years in a row. The 2022 winners are:
- Metro #73 in Mississauga
- Metro #453 in Bowmanville
- Metro #479 in Orillia
- Fisher’s Your Independent Grocer #839 in Beaverton
The Platinum All Seasons Award recognizes merchandising excellence through three seasonal groupings: spring, summer and fall/winter. The 2022 winners are:
- Metro #73 in Mississauga
- Metro #453 in Bowmanville
- Metro #479 in Orillia
- Fisher’s Your Independent Grocer #839 in Beaverton
- Food Basics #856 in Richmond Hill
- Foodland #3249 in Markdale
- FreshCo #9665 in Cornwall
- Longo’s #24 Maple Leaf Square in Toronto
- Longo’s #30 Mount Pleasant in Brampton
- Longo’s #32 in Guelph
- Longo’s #34 in Stouffville
- Metro #140 in Georgetown
- Starsky Fine Foods in Hamilton
The Gold Category Award is given to chain and independent stores in three specific categories: creative, seasonal and cross-merchandised. The 2022 winners are:
Gold Creative Winners
- Metro #84 in Burlington
- Metro #141 in Windsor
- Sobeys #7314 in Amherstburg
- Jonssons’ Your Independent Grocer #806 in Kemptville
Gold Seasonal
- FreshCo #3820 in Toronto
- Metro #331 in Orangeville
- Metro #461 in Mississauga
- Longo’s #22 in Richmond Hill
Gold Cross-Merchandised
- Metro #202 in Sault Ste. Marie
- Longo’s #11 Rutherford in Woodbridge
- Longo’s #17 Boxgrove in Markham
- Pusateri’s Fine Foods – Avenue Road in Toronto
The Silver Award of Merit celebrates excellence in promoting Ontario produce in a display. The 2022 winners are:
- Food Basics #660 in Brampton
- Food Basics #907 in Nepean
- Foodland #3259 in Southampton
- Foodland #3262 in Mount Forest
- Foodland #3304 Craighurst in Barrie
- Foodland #6809 in Lucan
- Foodland #6817 in Penetanguishene
- Foodland #7254 in Dundalk
- FreshCo #3834 in Binbrook
- FreshCo #3856 in Toronto
- FreshCo #9766 in Trenton
- FreshCo #9778 in Toronto
- Freshmart #4217 in Port Sydney
- Longo’s #9 Walkers Line in Burlington
- Longo’s #16 Burloak in Oakville
- Longo’s #19 in Aurora
- Longo’s #26 Leaside in Toronto
- Longo’s #27 in Southeast Oakville
- Longo’s #28 Applewood in Mississauga
- Longo’s #33 in Ajax
- Longo’s #35 Yonge & Sheppard in North York
- Longo’s #36 Green Lane in East Gwillimbury
- Metro #109 in Oshawa
- Metro #150 in London
- Metro #215 in Stoney Creek
- Metro #265 in Orleans
- Metro #702 in Etobicoke
- Metro #717 in Mississauga
- Metro #719 in Toronto
- Metro #728 in Mississauga
- Metro #798 in Newmarket
- Metro #800 in Scarborough
- Metro #853 in Pickering
- Marsha’s Your Independent Grocer #7186 in Nepean
- McDowell’s Your Independent Grocer #1948 in Belleville
- Zehrs #539 in Fergus
