Start a russian and eastern european grocery shop

Russian, Ukrainian and Eastern European families nearby, plus neighbours and home cooks who want specialty ingredients.

Retail margin on packaged and fresh goods. Deli items, gift boxes and holiday orders usually bring in extra sales.

• Customer service, ideally in Russian and English
• Ordering and stock control
• Basic bookkeeping
• Knowing the products and what regulars want

• Check with your local public health unit what permit and inspections you need, especially for fresh, deli or fridge items
• Check federal and provincial labelling rules for packaged foods, including bilingual labels, as imported goods often have foreign labels
• If you import directly rather than buy from Canadian distributors, check whether you need a Safe Food for Canadians licence
• Check current Canadian import restrictions and sanctions affecting goods from Russia, and consider sourcing from other Eastern European producers
• Selling alcohol such as vodka needs provincial liquor authority approval, so check the rules in your province
• Commercial general liability and contents insurance, plus short shelf-life stock that can spoil
• Rent and fit-out costs, and slower winter foot traffic in some areas

Startup costs are typically around $30,000 to $120,000 CAD, depending on the premises, fit-out, fridges and opening stock. Rent and fit-out are big parts of the budget, and short shelf-life stock can spoil.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $12,000 to $55,000 CAD, depending on location, range and customer base. The estimate assumes at least about 40 hours a week, and winter foot traffic can be slower in some areas.

Check with your local public health unit about permits and inspections, and federal and provincial labelling rules, including bilingual labels. If importing directly, check Safe Food for Canadians licensing, sanctions on Russian goods, and provincial approval for alcohol.