source: Farm and Food Report
One quick look around Saskatoon’s 8th Street East store and it all starts to register.
There are a lot more Saskatchewan products available than one might think: saskatoon berry jams, jellies and pies; baked goods, snack foods; health-related products like flax, gluten-free flour products and baking mixes; meats — everything from bison to ostrich and organic chicken.
Let’s not forget wild rice and maple – and even birch – syrup.
Saskatchewan Made Marketplace is a retailoutlet that showcases the broad range of food products processed by members of the Saskatchewan Food Processors Association (SFPA).
There are two outlets in Saskatoon — the second one is in the Confederation Mall. There is one outlet on Park Street in Regina, as well as smaller stores in Moose Jaw, Nipawin and Watrous, where existing stores are establishing Saskatchewan Made sections.
The network develops under the guidance of Chief Operating Officer Darrell Schneider.
“Saskatchewan consumers have long lamented the fact that there were no places to shop for the vast array of quality products that are being produced and processed in Saskatchewan,” Schneider says. “All this changed on October 9, 2004 when the first freestanding Saskatchewan Made store opened in Saskatoon.”
Schneider, who is himself a member of the industry through his company Schneider’s Gourmet World — specializing in snack foods — has been with the project since the beginning.
“Our own company started out selling through a kiosk in a mall during Christmas time,” he says. “We did very well, as did Grace Whittington from Riverbend Plantation and a few others. We talked about having a Saskatchewan Made retail outlet that would operate year- round, but we were told it wouldn’t work”
Funding was eventually secured from the Canadian Adaptation and Rural Development program in Saskatchewan (CARDS) with the financial assistance of industry partners.
The need to create a Saskatchewan Made brand for the products themselves was identified.
“Branding is a necessary step,” Schneider explains. “We needed a Saskatchewan Made logo and stickers to stimulate brand recognition and introduce Saskatchewan Made products to local consumers. Our logo symbolizes the high level of quality of the products we offer and acts as an influencer on consumers — encouraging them to choose our products over others.”
Schneider feels that “all things being equal in terms of quality, price and packaging, there is no reason not to consider a Saskatchewan product. We hope to instill in consumers a habit of looking for the Saskatchewan Made logo when they shop.”
Saskatchewan Made products eventually found themselves in a variety of stores and outlets operated by SFPA members, who sold their own products plus those of other producers in the association.
The products also became available through grocery chains that carried their own product line and stocked Saskatchewan Made products in Saskatchewan Made sections or regular sections within their stores.
Key to the concept is the notion of bringing everything Saskatchewan in one physical area, according to Schneider — the freestanding structure being the ultimate solution.
“The Saskatchewan Made Marketplace offers an exciting new option for producers and consumers alike. We see it as a place where Saskatchewan artists, publishers, musicians, crafters and First Nations people can also showcase their products and their talents. We are calling it an event place — a destination store.”
If anything, the Marketplace concept has certainly kicked off a whole new approach to Saskatchewan food product distribution and marketing.
“The SFPA has established a consolidated shipping process in its Marketplace distribution centre,” Schneider explains. “This means that if any store wants to order any of the shelf-stable products currently available in Saskatchewan Made stores, it can now just prepare one order and pay for it in one shot through one invoice. This is expected to make quite a difference in increasing efficiencies.”
The SFPA stores are now working on another initiative around fundraising for non-profit groups.
“Why should we have to use out of province or even foreign product to raise funds for scouts, curling rinks and other sports activities? We have a Saskatchewan Made solution in the works that will appeal to consumers and producers. Please stay tuned. I think we are on a roll here.”
For more information, contact:
Darrell Schneider
Saskatchewan Made Marketplace
(306) 683-2410
One quick look around Saskatoon’s 8th Street East store and it all starts to register.
There are a lot more Saskatchewan products available than one might think: saskatoon berry jams, jellies and pies; baked goods, snack foods; health-related products like flax, gluten-free flour products and baking mixes; meats — everything from bison to ostrich and organic chicken.
Let’s not forget wild rice and maple – and even birch – syrup.
Saskatchewan Made Marketplace is a retailoutlet that showcases the broad range of food products processed by members of the Saskatchewan Food Processors Association (SFPA).
There are two outlets in Saskatoon — the second one is in the Confederation Mall. There is one outlet on Park Street in Regina, as well as smaller stores in Moose Jaw, Nipawin and Watrous, where existing stores are establishing Saskatchewan Made sections.
The network develops under the guidance of Chief Operating Officer Darrell Schneider.
“Saskatchewan consumers have long lamented the fact that there were no places to shop for the vast array of quality products that are being produced and processed in Saskatchewan,” Schneider says. “All this changed on October 9, 2004 when the first freestanding Saskatchewan Made store opened in Saskatoon.”
Schneider, who is himself a member of the industry through his company Schneider’s Gourmet World — specializing in snack foods — has been with the project since the beginning.
“Our own company started out selling through a kiosk in a mall during Christmas time,” he says. “We did very well, as did Grace Whittington from Riverbend Plantation and a few others. We talked about having a Saskatchewan Made retail outlet that would operate year- round, but we were told it wouldn’t work”
Funding was eventually secured from the Canadian Adaptation and Rural Development program in Saskatchewan (CARDS) with the financial assistance of industry partners.
The need to create a Saskatchewan Made brand for the products themselves was identified.
“Branding is a necessary step,” Schneider explains. “We needed a Saskatchewan Made logo and stickers to stimulate brand recognition and introduce Saskatchewan Made products to local consumers. Our logo symbolizes the high level of quality of the products we offer and acts as an influencer on consumers — encouraging them to choose our products over others.”
Schneider feels that “all things being equal in terms of quality, price and packaging, there is no reason not to consider a Saskatchewan product. We hope to instill in consumers a habit of looking for the Saskatchewan Made logo when they shop.”
Saskatchewan Made products eventually found themselves in a variety of stores and outlets operated by SFPA members, who sold their own products plus those of other producers in the association.
The products also became available through grocery chains that carried their own product line and stocked Saskatchewan Made products in Saskatchewan Made sections or regular sections within their stores.
Key to the concept is the notion of bringing everything Saskatchewan in one physical area, according to Schneider — the freestanding structure being the ultimate solution.
“The Saskatchewan Made Marketplace offers an exciting new option for producers and consumers alike. We see it as a place where Saskatchewan artists, publishers, musicians, crafters and First Nations people can also showcase their products and their talents. We are calling it an event place — a destination store.”
If anything, the Marketplace concept has certainly kicked off a whole new approach to Saskatchewan food product distribution and marketing.
“The SFPA has established a consolidated shipping process in its Marketplace distribution centre,” Schneider explains. “This means that if any store wants to order any of the shelf-stable products currently available in Saskatchewan Made stores, it can now just prepare one order and pay for it in one shot through one invoice. This is expected to make quite a difference in increasing efficiencies.”
The SFPA stores are now working on another initiative around fundraising for non-profit groups.
“Why should we have to use out of province or even foreign product to raise funds for scouts, curling rinks and other sports activities? We have a Saskatchewan Made solution in the works that will appeal to consumers and producers. Please stay tuned. I think we are on a roll here.”
For more information, contact:
Darrell Schneider
Saskatchewan Made Marketplace
(306) 683-2410
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