Good things don’t just come in bunches, they can also come in bulk.
At least that’s the case at Nanaimo’s newest retailer, Bulk Barn, which celebrated its grand opening last month.
Bulk Barn, which is located on Terminal Avenue at Terminal Park mall, has more than 4,000 various food products available for bulk purchase. While many of the products available are various assortments of candies and sugary treats, Bulk Barn also sells dog food, herbal products, party snacks and baking supplies.
“We have one focus and that is bulk food,” said store owner Chad Wilton. “Our attention to detail, our attention to cleanliness, our attention to the product range is what sets us apart from the other stores.”
Bulk Barn is an Aurora, Ont.-based company that was founded in 1982 and has more than 200 stores across Canada. The company franchises out its stores, which are typically 450 square-metres (5,000 square-feet) in size.
“A lot people may or may not know, especially in a new market like this, that they are locally owned by individuals,” Wilton said. “Sometimes they might associate us [Bulk Barn] with the bigger grocery stores.”
Wilton, who also owns the Bulk Barns located in Langford, Courtenay, Duncan and downtown Victoria, said the Nanaimo location is more than ideal.
“The location is phenomenal, being on the busy road that it is and being in a plaza that has great anchor tenants was a no brainer for us that this was going to be a strong site,” Wilton said.
Bulk Barn has been open since June and has experienced a wave of customers.
“It’s a phenomenal load off when you open the doors and people come in to shop,” Wilton said. “I can’t even tell you the overwhelming feeling when people come out to support us. We’ve got a lot on the line and we put ourselves out to do this store, it’s a phenomenal relief.”
For more information, please visit www.bulkbarn.ca.
