Owners Jeanna and Garry Reed have a dream and their store reflects their passion for premium quality and expert service

As soon as you step through the doors of Vital Health in Creston, B.C. you realize this in not a typical "Mom 'n Pop," run-of-the-mill health and wellness store. Owners Jeanna and Garry Reed have a dream and their store reflects their passion for premium quality and expert service.

Standing out by fitting in

Rudi Mogl's renovations at Tara Natural Foods have given the store a turn-of-the-century feel, making it a perfect compliment to the historic downtown district in Kingston, ON

After 30 years, Toronto's Big Carrot continues to educate, influence and champion positive change

The Big Carrot celebrates 30 years of serving Torontonians this fall. Acknowledged by many as one of Toronto's top natural retail destinations, "The Carrot" is the classic full-service neighbourhood health food store. Located in the heart of the city's Greektown, it has a constant stream of people coming and going, everyone from moms with kids in-tow and busy business people stopping in for a quick bite or smoothie.

Strong team the key to success at Nutter's Cranbrook

Whole Foods adds new services to combat changing retailer landscape in Penticton, BC

Richard Hunt from Whole Foods Emporium Ltd, Penticton, B.C, reports the arrival of a mass chain store has changed the landscape in his town.

Nature's Fare Penticton eyes expansion to 7,600 sq. ft.

Community outreach, loyalty program contribute to growth

Nature's Fare in Penticton, B.C. is on a bit of a winning streak, according to store manager Bobbi Krien. "Our store recently won best of the south Okanagan for "Best Health Food/Vitamin store" for 2013. We also won this award in 2011 and 2012. This award is voted on by the public. Also, Nature's Fare Markets on the whole won the CHFA Canadian retailer of the year award this year and it is the first time any retailer has won it four times!

Montreal's BioTerre Epicerie Sante is one of those "must-see" natural health stores that offers up a number of pleasant surprises to any visitor. Nestled on a corner in a bustling downtown Montreal neighborhood, BioTerre is a 3,900 sq. ft., full service store that is visually pleasing in so many ways.

The Nature's Fare store at the Orchard Plaza in Kelowna, B.C. has just completed a major addition.

Alexa Monahan of Nature's Fare said, "We've added 2,500 square feet, mainly retail. We've increased the size of each of our departments (deli, produce, grocery, meats, haba, vitamins/supplements) as well as adding additional cash registers."

The year 1953 was certainly filled with newsworthy events. The post-Second World War baby boom was in full swing, as Canadian families grew at record rates. The coronation of Queen Elizabeth II took place, and the three-year Korean War ended. In Nepal, Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay became the first climbers confirmed as having reached the summit of Mount Everest. In Canadian sports, the Montreal Canadiens won the Stanley Cup. And on a cool sunny Saturday in Toronto, the Hamilton Tiger Cats won the Grey Cup over Winnipeg (sorry Blue Bomber fans!)

For 40 years, the Stone Store in Guelph, Ontario has worked its way into the hearts and minds of the people in this "green, granola" city. What began as a loosely undefined coop in 1970, it has become a well-known fixture in Guelph's downtown core.

In a departure from its traditional store model, Sangster's has opened its first-ever organic markets in Saskatchewan

Photos: Derek Pasitney Story: Bruce W. Cole

Just over a year ago, Darryl Sangster saw a potentially tremendous business opportunity materialize before his eyes in his very own kitchen at home. Within a year, he had parlayed that "potential opportunity" into four brand new organic market stores in three Saskatchewan cities.

No...it wasn't a dance contest – it was an overnight re-organizing of some of the store's shelving.

Marches Tau has added another store to it's already successful group in Montreal, Quebec.  Company vice-president Robbie Brown says it was the next logical step as customers had been requesting another store for some time. So as customers spoke, Robbie made sure to listen.

A very big store with a small store feel

Supermarché Santé La Moisson is a very big health food store, among the largest in all of Canada.  Yet, it has managed to retain a small-store feel.

Nutter's 30th anniversary bash draws dignitaries, industry partners, old friends

Nutter's Bulk and Natural Foods certainly celebrated its 30th anniversary in grand style. Held in early September in Medicine Hat, AB, the Nutter's annual franchise meetings attracted its franchisees, store managers and staff from all corners of the Prairies, as well as supplier partners from across the country. "..."

Changing from a bulk store to a health food store was easy for the Chenier Family of Pantry Plus. It was just a matter of listening to what customers were asking for.  When the people of Orléans, ON spoke, Gilles and Lynda Chenier listened. "..."

Its first in the Greater Vancouver area.... and largest

Nature's Fare Markets' newest store marks a couple of firsts for the organization, under the categories of "further" and "bigger." For almost 20 years, Nature's Fare has been serving the health food needs of residents throughout the Okanagan Valley in British Columbia. With five successful locations throughout the Okanagan – in Vernon, Kelowna, West Kelowna, Penticton and Kamloops – the company decided it was time to step outside "the valley" and into the greater Vancouver area (GVA) to help more people on their health journey.