The 120-year old British Columbia company Georgia Main Food Group, owned and operated by the Louie family, will be launching its first Asian grocery store in the near future.
“With deep, local, and trusted roots going back 120 years, we are set to redefine the Asian grocery store experience with Meiga Supermarket,” said Gary Sorenson, Chief Operating Officer, Georgia Main Food Group.
“Meiga will offer quality Asian products in an atmosphere of discovery where new, authentic, and exclusively sourced products are part of our customers’ everyday shopping. Meiga’s commitment to freshness will be found in our products and it’s also embedded in our attitude, with a fresh view on what the Asian supermarket experience will be like.
“We will constantly be on discovery for new items found through travel and food exploration throughout North America and Asia. We will find new food trends elsewhere to get in front of what is currently offered locally. The Louie family and our GMFG management team are thrilled to be bringing our immense grocery and retail infrastructure and experience to launching a new Asian banner in Meiga.”
The first Meiga Supermarket will be located at 221 Ioco Road in Port Moody with plans for expansion over the next three to five years.
Charnelle McClure, Senior Director, Marketing and Brand Loyalty for the Georgia Main Food Group, said the first store is 14,000 square feet.
“We looked at research in terms of where we thought the best location would be for our first Asian grocery store and we saw an opportunity in the Port Moody area,” she said. “That’s why we decided to open there first.
“This is the first but we are definitely looking and doing our research in terms of where we can expand. We’ll be expanding over the next three to five years. We don’t have definite plans, but we’re looking at the Lower Mainland and elsewhere.”
McClure said Meiga is translated from the Chinese word which means beautiful family.
Started in 1903 at Georgia and Main streets in Vancouver, GMFG is a 120-year-old iconic British Columbia-based Louie family owned and operated company with deep roots in the province’s grocery industry. GMFG is the parent company of seven Fresh St. Market stores and 22 IGA stores in B.C. and now its new and first Asian grocery store – Meiga Supermarket.
Products found inside the supermarket will include fresh produce and meats, an open kitchen with ready-to-serve hot foods including traditional Chinese take-away specialties, Cantonese BBQ, RWA beef and pork, hot pot, sushi, fresh bakery and a juice bar.
Meiga will cater to Asian food enthusiasts who are looking for a unique grocery shopping experience as well as consumers who wish to explore and discover new ways of cooking and appreciating Asian foods.
McClure said many different Asian style supermarkets are opening in the market these days.
“But I think the thing that will differentiate us probably is the high service approach that we’re going to take,” she said. “We’re going to have top of the line product but really in an atmosphere that is welcoming and authentic so that people can discover foods. I think that will be the difference for us because we’re really trying to appeal to Asian food enthusiasts and also just people who want to explore and discover new ways of cooking and appreciating food in an environment that’s not intimidating.
“We want to have staff that’s educated and informed and able to help people understand what ingredients are best, what products to use, so that it’s not intimidating and scary for an Asian meal.”
