Metro looking to enter ethnic market

There are reports that Metro Inc. is looking to get a piece of the multibillion-dollar ethnic grocery market by partnering with Adonis Market, a four-store specialty grocer.

The Montreal Gazette reported that while a Metro spokesperson declined to comment about a possible deal between Metro and the Mediterranean food grocer, an unnamed manager at Adonis confirmed negotiations are underway.

As more immigrants have been welcomed into Canada over the last 20 to 30 years, mainstream palates have also changed, with people wanting to recreate authentic flavours at home.

These types of partnerships between an ethnic grocer and mainstream grocer aren’t new in grocery; Loblaw Cos. Ltd. purchased Toronto’s Italian grocer Fortino’s and Vancouver’s T&T Supermarket, an Asian food specialist.

CIBC World Market’s has estimated that the ethnic food market lies somewhere between $4 billion and $5 billion in sales; and is growing at 15 percent to 20 per cent per year.