Start a Cured Ham and Charcuterie Shop in Canada

Food lovers, home entertainers, gift buyers, and local restaurants or caterers who want a specialist supplier.

Margin on products sold by weight or by the piece, plus higher-value gift boxes, platters and holiday orders. Tastings can help customers trade up to premium hams.

• Knowledge of cured meats and how to serve them
• Safe food handling and slicing
• Buying and managing stock
• Friendly customer service

• Food premises permit and inspections from your local public health unit; check what applies to slicing and handling cured meats
• If you import hams yourself, check federal CFIA licensing and import rules, or buy from a licensed importer or distributor
• Commercial general liability insurance and cold-chain equipment such as refrigeration and a slicer
• Strong holiday seasonality and the cost of tying up cash in whole legs of ham
• Quebec has its own rules, including French-language signage requirements

Estimates typically put startup costs at around $40,000 to $180,000, depending on the premises, refrigeration and slicer, and how many whole legs of ham you stock. Cash tied up in stock is a major factor.

Estimated monthly revenue is typically around $12,000 to $50,000, depending on location, range, gift boxes and restaurant or catering customers. Holiday seasons can be much busier than other times of year.

Check the food premises permit and inspections from your local public health unit, including slicing and handling cured meats. If you import hams yourself, check CFIA licensing and import rules, and Quebec's French-language signage requirements.