B.C. grocer winner of Ethno Business Council lifetime achievement award

Doug Yuen, founder of the 10-store Fairway Market on Vancouver Island, was presented with the lifetime achievement award last week from the Ethno Business Council of B.C. that recognizes achievements of new Canadian entrepreneurs.

From humble beginnings, Yuen’s business now boasts more than 800 employees.

In 1950, Yuen immigrated to Vancouver Island from China and started working for his uncle in the grocery business in Duncan.  He is a third-generation grocer, who opened his first store–a Super Valu store–in 1963.

After nearly 50 years in the grocery business, he is now handing over the reins of the business to son, Doug.

Fairway has a wide range of ethnic foods, and is the only store to import the British Marks and Spencer’s foodstuffs that cater to the large British population in Victoria.