Recession Means Growth For Local Produce Marketer

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Vancouver Sun:

Kin Hun Leung isn’t too worried about the economic downturn.

In fact, the vice-president and co-founder of Richmond-based Kin’s Farm Market plans on expanding the chain of specialty produce stores from 26 to nearly 75 locations by 2014 while tripling its workforce to more than 2,000 employees. He’s also looking into franchise opportunities.

So, what’s behind Leung’s confidence? A growing taste by cash-strapped consumers for cheaper home-cooked meals heavy on fresh fruits and vegetables — and that’s pretty much all that Kin’s sells.

“People are concerned about eating healthy, particularly more fruits and vegetables,” Leung said in an interview Wednesday. “And they’re buying more, because they’re staying home and cooking for themselves. I can see the trend.”

He said that despite the slowing economy, Kin’s is performing better than ever and the food industry is generally recession-proof.

Leung, who owns Kin’s Farm Market with brother Kin Wah Leung and sister-in-law Queenie Leung, said the average number of daily customers at each of their stores has risen over the past year from 800 to 1,000 to between 900 and 1,100. “And they’re buying more food compared to last year.”

Read full story.

Photo: Jenelle Schneider / Vancouver Sun.

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