KaleMart24, the “Whole Foods Market” of convenience stores, has opened its first store in Montreal at the Berri-UQAM Metro Station.
KaleMart24 is being spearheaded by Oussama (Sam) Saoudi, who is the founder and CEO of Montreal-based Toro Beverages, which revolutionized the energy drink industry by introducing Canada’s first matcha-powered energy drink.
“Our aim is to seamlessly integrate convenience and sustainability, empowering customers to make informed choices that support their well-being and the health of our planet,” said Saoudi.
He said a second location is opening soon at the Jarry Metro Station and a third one opening under construction is expected to open in June near the Bell Centre in downtown Montreal.
“These three are confirmed but we have some more coming but they’re not confirmed yet,” added Saoudi.
He said the milestone opening signals KaleMart24’s unwavering commitment to providing urban communities with easy access to wholesome, nourishing food options that prioritize both personal wellness and environmental sustainability.
With a carefully curated selection of products, organic snacks, and eco-friendly household essentials, this pioneering store concept offers a holistic shopping experience tailored to the discerning tastes of health-conscious individuals on the go, added Saoudi.
“The main reason we started in Montreal is because we’re here. I’m from Montreal. I live here. So I decided to start with this market. That’s one of the reasons. But the other reason it’s a very good market to test out a new concept because it’s kind of a hard market. So if you make it in Quebec, in my opinion, with this type of concept you can make it anywhere outside of Montreal,” he said.
The brand worked with renowned architecture and design firm, Benoy, to complete the project.
Technology is at the forefront of the KaleMart24 concept: Mobile-savvy customers will benefit from a loyalty program, as well as contactless and mobile payments options for easy shopping 24/7.
Saoudi said KaleMart24’s store at Berri-UQAM embodies the company’s core values of quality, integrity, and environmental stewardship. From biodegradable packaging to energy-efficient operations, every aspect of the store is thoughtfully crafted to minimize ecological impact and promote a more sustainable way of living.
“We look for locations with high traffic. We’ve started with locations with high foot traffic but eventually we’ll be looking for locations with high car traffic close to gas stations, strip malls when it’s not downtown,” he said.
“In Montreal, we already have some other prospects with franchisees. I would say we’re targeting in Montreal to grow to about 10 to 15 in the main Montreal area.
“For Ontario, we already have a franchisee. Our model is we started with three corporate stores but now we’re only franchise moving forward. We already have a franchisee that signed up for Ottawa. We’re just finalizing the location and once that’s done that will be our first location outside of Montreal and Quebec. But we also have some prospects for Toronto.
“The next step, once our first stores are open here, we’ll be opening some more stores in Montreal and at the same time opening in Ontario, mainly Toronto.”
Think Retail is working with KaleMart to grow the brand.
Tony Flanz, CEO of Montreal-based Think Retail, said the first location is 1,200 square feet in Berri-UQAM, the largest station in the city’s Metro system and a busy commuter hub.
A second 600-square-foot KaleMart24, will open later this month in Jarry Metro in the borough of Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension, followed by a 2,055-square-foot store at 1055 de la Montagne (adjacent the Bell Centre) in late April.
“Positioned “where convenience meets wellness in perfect harmony,” KaleMart24 is ready to revolutionize the convenience store concept with a fresh product mix designed to appeal to a new generation of busy health-conscious consumers seeking better-for-you and sustainable products,” said Flanz.
“KaleMart24 is embarking on an aggressive expansion plan, with a focus on high-traffic street-front locations of 1,000 to 1,500 square feet. Next up, the plan is to open in Toronto by the end of the year, with the ultimate plan of having dozens of stores across Canada, and, eventually, North America,” he said.
As someone who passes through Berri-UQAM frequently and who used to be a Whole Foods regular, I’ll be checking the place out. But I’m skeptical. Snacks, energy drinks and overly-processed foods, even if organic, are not healthy.
I’d be curious to hear your review when you visit. I’m in Toronto and won’t be in Montreal until early April to check it out myself.