On Sept. 27, T&T Supermarket opened its first location in London, located at 530 Oxford St. W. Owned by Loblaw Companies Ltd., T&T originated in British Columbia and aims to become a flagship Asian grocery store in the Forest City.

According to Statistics Canada, the country welcomed nearly 50,000 Asian immigrants in 2021, up from almost 31,000 in 2016. This growing community has fueled the demand for Asian grocery stores and international food products. Siriya Sritharang, who has owned Thai Asian Grocery and Boba House since 2015, has witnessed this shift firsthand.

Despite the potential increase in competition, local grocery store owners remain optimistic about retaining their loyal customer base.

“The feedback to me from customers is positive. They love to come here. It’s nice because they know us, and we have been here for a while,” Sritharang said. “Some big supermarkets offer more variety and better sales, but when you come here, you can find what you need without spending much money.

Many customers prefer shopping at smaller stores where they feel a sense of community and familiarity, according to Sritharang.

'They say they don't need to spend much money and are happy,' Sritharang said.

Shanita Boonratanayothin, a Fanshawe College student and employee at Thai Asian Grocery and Boba House, highlighted their store's diverse customer base.

'There are a lot of international students who come here because our stuff is mainly imported from the countries of origin,' Boonratanayothin said. She pointed out that many students from various Asian backgrounds often visit local Asian grocery stores to find familiar ingredients.

'We have many kinds of food from Asia, especially from the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam.”

Many residents hope that the new supermarket will not only offer a more comprehensive selection of Asian food but will also inspire existing grocery stores to improve their offerings. According to Sritharang, this is the key to a successful business, as she mentioned that her grocery store has become a go-to place for those looking for products from their home countries that are not usually easily found.

'They often ask us, 'Do you have this product?' and we work to bring it in for them,' she said, reflecting the personalized service that smaller grocery stores can provide.

The arrival of the T&T Supermarket has generated a mixed response from residents and local business owners. While some have seen it as essential to expanding the city's international food options and attracting new customers, others have seen it as stiff competition for smaller grocery stores. However, Boonratanayothin said she has not seen a customer drop since the T&T opened.

'It's been pretty much the same. We have a lot of regular customers who come here often,' she stated.

Despite these challenges, both Sritharang and Boonratanayothin agree that the presence of T&T Supermarket can benefit the community by bringing greater awareness and accessibility to Asian grocery products.

'It's a good thing for the city. More people will know about Asian foods and try them,' Boonratanayothin said.

Local businesses like Thai Asian Grocery and Boba House will continue to adapt and thrive, maintaining their unique offerings and personal connections with their customers.