Neighbourhood gourmet food shop

Food-focused locals, home cooks, people buying gifts and hosts planning dinners or holiday gatherings.

Retail margin on products, with higher margins on items sold by weight, prepared platters and gift baskets. Regulars and holiday seasons drive much of the sales.

• Knowing and tasting specialty foods
• Buying and stock control
• Friendly customer service
• Basic bookkeeping

• Food retail permits and inspections from your local public health unit, plus any municipal business licence, so check before you sign a lease
• Cutting or handling cheese and cured meats may bring extra food safety rules, so check with your provincial and local health authorities
• Imported foods and labelling have federal requirements (including bilingual labelling for products you package yourself), so check with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency
• Commercial general liability and property insurance, and WCB/WSIB coverage once you hire
• Perishable stock can spoil, so start with a tight range and watch waste
• Rent and refrigeration costs are fixed, and sales can swing with the season

Startup costs are estimates, typically around $40,000 to $150,000, depending on premises, refrigeration, fit-out and opening stock. Rent and refrigeration are fixed costs, so check your lease and equipment quotes before committing.

Check food retail permits and inspections with your local public health unit, plus any municipal business licence. Cutting cheese or cured meats may bring extra food safety rules, and imported or self-packaged foods have federal labelling requirements to check with the CFIA.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated around $12,000 to $60,000, depending on location, range and the season. Perishable stock can spoil, so a tight range helps. Plan for at least 40 hours a week.