Proudly Canadian Brand Stories – Hardbite Chips – Real Canadian People, Places and Flavour

“Honestly, our packaging is one of our most Canadian statements,” says Hardbite Marketing Manager Darlene McIntosh, “ It is with Canadian-made pride that we designed our packaging to profile Canadian destinations with nature-loving lifestyle imagery.  On every bag we feature the Canadian flag, and a real place with real people.”

But what you see on the shelf is just the beginning. Hardbite Chips have Canadian qualities right to the bottom of the bag.

Independently owned, and proudly made right here in BC.

Hardbite Chips are made in Surrey, in British Columbia’s only potato chip manufacturing facility. There, chips are cooked in small batches, for the ultimate in crunch and taste. Company ownership is local, too. The people that run the company work in the same building as the people who run the spicing drums.

“Made in Canada is a badge of honour,” says McIntosh, “And as an independently owned Canadian company, we will continue to wave that flag proudly.”

Fun Chips, with Serious Canadian Values

Like the potatoes they use, the Hardbite philosophy is solidly rooted.

“When people choose to buy Canadian, that means they are choosing to support their community, grow the economy, and sustain a strong and fairly treated workforce,” says McIntosh, “Beyond that, buying Canadian also means peace of mind, as manufacturing is highly regulated, consumers can be assured products are safe.”

But the Hardbite team never likes to be too heavy. “We communicate with each other, we say what we mean and we don’t hold back,” says McIntosh, “Because snacking should be fun, people!”

Keep on Exploring, Keep on Snacking!

The Hardbite philosophy is inspired by Canada’s wide open spaces. It’s a sense of adventure that has led to the development of an amazing array of flavours, including such ‘out there’ varieties as Spicy Dill, Chipotle Raspberry Parsnip and a whole line cooked in avocado oil.

“We love exploring,” McIntosh continues, “Whether it’s going for a long walk in the woods or blasting down a muddy mountain trail on a bike, it’s all about celebrating nature. And what better way to celebrate an adventure than to scarf down a bag of all-natural chips that taste awesome.”

Bring it on!

Shop Hardbite products online here.

Proudly Canadian Brand Stories – Que Pasa Foods

Que Pasa Foods – Multicultural Chips Made in Canada the Authentic Mexican Way

“Canada is all about diversity, and so is Que Pasa!” says Arjan Stephens, President of Que Pasa Foods. “Last year we celebrated Que Pasa’s Mexican origins through our limited-edition Day of the Dead chips, and earlier this year launched a new flavour, Korean BBQ, as a way to pay homage to our country’s great Asian cultural influences.” This great Canadian Chip company has authentic roots and products that bring the fiesta to any backyard or kitchen event.

Born and raised in Vancouver, now part of the amazing Nature’s Path Foods family

Que Pasa started out as a street-front deli in Vancouver in 1983. Today, as part of the Nature’s Path Foods family, they remain family-owned, and continue a deep social and environmental commitment to organics and sustainability.

“We’re proud that no one makes tortilla chips the way that we do – our unique approach uses all organic and non-GMO ingredients and whole corn kernels that are ground between hand-cut Mexican volcanic lava millstones,” says Stephens, “.This is how it was done in Mexico centuries ago – you can’t get more authentic than that!”

Every chip makes a difference.

Being Proudly Canadian is more than just the red & white chips Que Pasa releases every Canada Day. It’s a commitment to craftsmanship, people and the land.

“When people buy Que Pasa products, they know they are supporting organic agriculture,” Stephens continues, “ And food artisans who put 1000% of their effort and energy into crafting the most delicious, organic, hand-crafted chips, salsas and tortillas.”

The Que Pasa manufacturing facility in Delta, BC, was the first production facility in Canada to be given a Zero Waste Certification from Green Business Certification Inc, and the company is eagerly working towards their next goal: being climate neutral by 2020.

Being Canadian is all in the family.

London Drugs and Que Pasa are both Canadian companies founded by families, and we share values that go beyond the shelf.

Like Arjan Stephens says, “London Drugs is another family-run business that leads with their hearts. We love working with the London Drugs team and how we’ve joined together to help ensure organic food is accessible to Canadians!”

You could say we go together like chips and salsa.

Shop Que Pasa products on our website here.

4 Ways to Bring Your Outdoor Space to Life

If planned right, a backyard or balcony space can be a personal oasis. By optimizing your outdoor space, you can greatly expand your living area during the summer months. Truly livable outdoor spaces share a few common elements. Follow these 4 simple ideas to transform your outdoor space into your personal dream garden.

1 – Entertaining area

To enjoy the outdoors, first and foremost you’ll need a place to sit. The joy of entertaining outdoors is you don’t always need a formal dining area or fancy dinnerware! A relaxed environment like this Collection Cosetta patio set is the perfect lounge set up for relaxing with a beverage and can double as a dining area for your next BBQ. If you’re looking for a dedicated dining space, this Collection metal foldable table set will allow you to have lots of room for all your guests to dine. In a tighter space, the Collection Bella folding bistro set is perfect for even the smallest of balconies. No matter the space, large or small, a seating area is the first step and we have a wide assortment to get your outdoor space comfortable.

2 – Outdoor kitchen

When enjoying the outdoors at home, you don’t want to trek to and from the kitchen. An outdoor kitchen doesn’t require a fancy built-in grill! It can be as simple as a dedicated surface to cook with a BBQ. The Kenmore pedestal 3 burner gril BBQ has everything you need, including two side tables for food prep. Another option is The Camp Chef XTG pellet grill which is a backyard powerhouse. It can slow smoke or grill any meal to perfection! While talking food, you’ll need to ensure you keep your beverages cold! We have some of the coolest coolers around. Like this unique van cooler. If you’re looking to save on space, this foosball cooler cart has a built in foosball table top, doubling as an entertainment centre that is sure to be a hit for all ages.

3 – Shade

Soaking in some rays is one thing that makes the summer special, however too much sun can be problematic. Making sure you have some shade is a great way to make the space livable at all times of day. The Collection aluminum pergola is a great option. Complete with two shades (one grey and one beige) it can be full shade, half shade or no shade depending on your needs. Also, its aluminum frame is sure to endure years of use. For something smaller a fiberglass windproof umbrella is a great option that is easy to move. For a more robust shade, the Bond offset umbrella is available in various colours and can cover your dining area with no obstructions or center pole. If you are working with a small balcony, this universal umbrealla for an outdoor chair is perfect as it will mount to any chair, and is also great for days at the beach.

4 – Ambience

Now that you have a sitting area, some shade, and a place to prepare your food, it’s time to add the final touches. Backyard ambience can be anything from décor to lighting. Solar lighting is a great way to add highlights to a large space without the trouble of connecting power. No matter your taste, we have a wide assortment of solar lighting options. Another final touch is to add some planters and garden décor.


From resin planters, to ceramic and even wood, there are a wide range of styles available to match any aesthetic. Add in some unique garden accessories like this Collection bird bath, and your personality is sure to come through. If on a balcony or in an urban area, a fountain like this unique Collection fountain with LED lights can help cut the background hum of the city streets and add a tranquil vibe. Lastly, a fire pit can turn relaxing evenings into a camping-like experience (but where you still get to sleep in your own bed!) Whether a table top, or stand alone unit, we have various options to fit any space.

No matter what you do to your outdoor space, we can help you transform it into an extension of your living area that can easily become your favourite place in the house. Shop our outdoor living collection today to have your dream back yard tomorrow.

Locally-made ShylaSpreadsHope Masks to support vulnerable childhood cancer patients in British Columbia becomes part of London Drugs’ Local Central program

June 4, 2020 – When we learned the story about the Tang family having to close their dry clean and tailoring business and a recent tragedy they faced, our family businesses entered into discussions with theirs about how London Drugs might be able to provide assistance. When the family’s small business Sew Clean had to close due to COVID-19, the Tang family switched to making masks with proceeds going to Childhood Cancer Family Support Society, an organization that greatly helped their five-year-old daughter prior to her tragic passing in December. Now, the family’s ShylaSpreadsHope masks will be available for purchase at six of our locations beginning Monday, June 8.

“When my daughter, Shyla, was going through her cancer treatment, Childhood Cancer Family Support (CCFS) was there for us emotionally and financially,” said Victoria Tang, ShylaSpreadsHope Masks. “After learning that their fundraising events were cancelled due to the pandemic, I wanted to help raise money for the non-profit organization. I began sewing fabric facemasks for people and raising funds. Since then I have created a team of local seamstresses to fulfil on production. ShylaSpreadsHope is a way to honor my daughter’s memory, by giving back to the community and spreading love and hope. In the midst of our darkest times, I know we can get through anything as long as we work together and continue to show kindness and compassion. I am so grateful to London Drugs for their willingness to support this cause, helping Shyla spread hope”.

The masks are currently in production with inventory to be made available at the following locations: Brentwood Mall in Burnaby, and in Vancouver at Broadway and Vine, Dunbar, Hastings and Abbott, Kerrisdale and Olympic Village. The masks are available in adult and children’s sizes in five colours at a cost of $12 with all proceeds going back to ShylaSpreadsHope. Three dollars from every $12 purchase will go to Childhood Cancer Family Support Society.

“All of us at London Drugs are particularly moved to be able to help the Tang family in their efforts to reignite their business as part of our Local Central program while supporting Childhood Cancer Family Support at the same time,” said Clint Mahlman, president and chief operating officer, London Drugs. “We are in the midst of a mask-wearing era and kudos to this family who have had much heartache and grief to be able to pivot to making masks when their business had to close.”

Customers can find the ShylaSpreadsHope masks in the six locations’ Local Central section. Local Central was launched in April in response to small businesses being severely impacted by COVID-19. The list of Local Central businesses being supported continues to grow and the current list can be found here:  https://londondrugs.com/local-central.html

 

ABOUT ShylaSpreadsHope Masks

ShylaSpreadsHope is a fundraising and community-building initiative created in loving memory of Shyla Ann Tang, who courageously battled a rare form of childhood cancer for three years before passing away at the age of five. In honour of Shyla, we are giving back and fundraising for Childhood Cancer Family Support. This charity helps families who are struggling with the financial burden of taking care of their child with cancer or blood disorder by providing them with financial aid and community support. After closing the doors of our Dry cleaning and Alteration shop, my team and I are committed to making quality comfortable fabric face masks for the community. Each mask is made locally with TENCEL Lyocell fabric which is breathable, soft, lightweight and biodegradable. Each mask comes with a filter pocket and is washable / reusable. For every mask sold, $3 will be donated to Childhood Cancer Family Support Society.

 

Proudly Canadian Brand Stories – Nellie’s – Inspired by a Mom from the Prairies

 

Nellie’s – Inspired by a Mom from the Prairies

Nellie’s founder James Roberts gives credit for their success story where it’s due. “Nellie’s is named after my mom, who believed in keeping things simple – in a good way.” This is obvious in products like their iconic powdered laundry detergent. “The fact is, more cleaning power can be packed into powder,” Roberts continues, “Only one tablespoon is needed for a regular load of laundry.”

Made in Canada with Canadian Ingredients Nellie’s has been making their eco-friendly cleaning products based out of North Vancouver for over a decade, with high-quality biodegradable and hypo-allergenic ingredients.

“We don’t want to go elsewhere for materials unless we have to,” says Roberts, “For example, the soda ash used in our detergent is mined in Canada – it goes from the ground to processing, to the container in your home. That helps employ a lot of Canadians along the way.”

Nellie’s number one Canadian value: Common Sense. “When I grew up, there weren’t a dozen cleaners under the sink,” says Roberts, “We like to make products people really need. We also believe things can be made in Canada. Sometimes domestic ingredients may cost us a little more, but it makes sense to support local.”

Nellie’s also believes in another good Canadian value – honesty. Every ingredient in their products is listed on their website.

Nellie’s and London Drugs – a Canadian connection that goes way back. “London Drugs engaged with Nellie’s early on,” says Roberts, “They started by selling our Nellie’s Dryerballs over 10 years ago, and they have grown with us all the way since. That’s another Canadian prairie value. You support the people in your community.”

Shop Nellie’s line of cleaning products, for laundry, kitchen and bath here: https://www.londondrugs.com/nellies/

To find out more about our Proudly Canadian program, click here.

 

 

 

The Employment Scam

We have been advised of a recruitment scam where fraudsters are targeting employment applicants. We understand individuals may be contacted or encouraged to apply or accept jobs via a fraudulent website impersonating London Drugs. This is an attempt to improperly obtain personal information from prospective candidates. If you are approached about employment at London Drugs, you can verify the opportunity by calling our main inquiries line at 1-888-991-2299, or connect through email at https://www.londondrugs.com/contact-us/

Always be cautious when applying for positions online. A few simple tips to protect yourself from this type of fraud:

1) Verify all job opportunities before submitting an application by searching the company’s recruiting website.
Ours is https://london-drugs-limited-jobs.careerplug.com/account 

2) If you are contacted directly and without applying for a position by someone recruiting, ask to call them back through their publicly posted contact number and ask for that individual by name. Often the agent who answers the phone will be able to help you verify that the offer is legitimate and ensure you are speaking with the correct person. London Drugs can be reached at 1-888-991-2299.

3) If you are asked to submit a resume or complete a job application, do not include information like date of birth, social insurance number, or other sensitive personally identifiable information until you have verified the request is legitimate – such as through a publicly posted number.

4) If you are offered a position and it includes instructions to deposit a cheque and make a withdrawal, conduct mystery shops, make a purchase on behalf of someone else, or forwarding shipped products, verify these opportunities carefully. London Drugs does not currently offer positions of these types and if we did, they would be posted on our careers page.

5) If you have fallen victim to one of these scams, please contact your local police.

For additional information on protecting yourself from scams or to report fraud visit the Canadian Antifraud Centre at www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/index-eng.htm

Proudly Canadian Brand Stories – Baby Gourmet

 

Baby Gourmet – Started by two Calgary Moms who just wanted to feed their babies better.

“When my daughter was six months old. I went to the grocery store and bought a couple jars of baby food. After opening a jar of strained green beans, I knew instantly I wasn’t going to feed her anything I wouldn’t eat myself,” says Baby Gourmet co-founder Jennifer Carlson, “And I definitely wasn’t going to eat that jar of green beans!” Jennifer and her sister Jill Vos, launched Baby Gourmet in 2006 at the Calgary Farmers Market.  Since then, it has grown to become Canada’s leading brand of organic baby food.

Babies deserve the finest ingredients

Baby Gourmet uses only the very best, non-GMO organic ingredients – no fillers, added sugar, salt, or artificial preservatives of any kind – and 75% of their entire product offering is made in Canada. “We are most proud of our new innovation,” Carlson says, “A finger food line of lentil chickpea puffed snacks that are made in Saskatchewan.”

Canadian authenticity – from their kitchen to yours.

“Jill and I create every single product that comes out of Baby Gourmet,” says Carlson, “Every product starts in our kitchen and then moves into production under our watchful eye.” This hands-on process keeps Baby Gourmet at the forefront of the Canadian baby food market. “We use our motherly instincts to decide which flavours to bring to market and have a deep understanding of our fellow moms and what they want for their babies.”

Growing Canadian success (and Canadian babies!)

“We feel strongly about strengthening communities and local economies. We can do this by supporting the passionate Canadians behind Proudly Canadian brands,” says Carlson, “London Drugs has been a key partner of Baby Gourmet for the last 8 years and are an integral part of helping put the best organic baby food into the mouths of Canadian babies!”

Here’s to growing them big and strong.

Shop baby gourmet online here.

To find out more about our Proudly Canadian program, click here.

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