Local retailer chosen for pilot project

Ontario’s Heritage Meat promotes locally processed meat and poultry

GUELPH, (ON) September 19,  2011 –As a long-time supporter of buying local it’s no surprise that Mississauga/Markham retailer Michael-Angelo’s  was asked to participate in a pilot project to promote a new collection of artisan-style, award-winning products made by local processors from locally raised meat and poultry.  The new collection, which is identified with a distinctive logo and the name Ontario’s Heritage Meat - Our Family’s Finest Collection, is being launched this week at Michael-Angelo’s Markham and Mississauga stores.  Only a handful of retailers across the province were chosen for the pilot project.

“We are pleased that Michael-Angelo’s was chosen to participate in this project,” said Mike Gionfriddo meat, seafood and deli buyer for Michael-Angelo’s.  “For many years we have demonstrated loyalty and a strong commitment to local producers and processors. It’s a natural fit for us.”

The pilot project, which is funded in part by the provincial government and by members of Ontario Independent Meat Processors (OIMP), was developed in response to research that showed increased consumer demand for locally produced products and increased desire on the OIMP members’ part to distribute and market their products outside their own communities.

“With Ontario’s Heritage Meat we have created a vehicle to showcase both the innovative and the traditional processed meat and poultry products that our members are making,” said Laurie Nicol, executive director of the OIMP.  “This artisan-style collection consists of products made with the skills and in some cases the recipes that have been passed down through families over several generations.  It takes time, patience, passion and pride to make something this good.”

With nearly 200 Business Members, choosing products suitable for Ontario’s Heritage Collection could have been challenging. However, the already established Ontario Finest Meat Competition, the largest meat competition of its kind in Canada, was a perfect source to determine what products would be eligible.

The 2011 competition attracted 149 entries from 21 Ontario processors and on January 27^th, 2011, a stellar roster of knowledgeable, influential judges including retail buyers, media, chefs and home economists determined the Platinum, Gold, and Silver award winners in each category. These award-winners have now become eligible to join the Ontario’s Heritage Meat collection.  

Michael-Angelo’s is launching the program with the following products from Ontario’s Heritage Meat collection:

·         Smoked Back Bacon (made by Halenda’s Fine Foods, Oshawa, ON)

·         Csabai Salami Sticks (made by Halenda’s Fine Foods, Oshawa, ON)

·         Lacshinken (made by Halenda’s Fine Foods, Oshawa, ON)

·         Smoked Montreal Bacon (made by Stemmler’s Meats and Cheese, Heidelberg, ON)

·         Turkey Pastrami (made by Barilo’s Fine Sausages Ltd., Newmarket, ON)

·         Chipotle Roast Beef (made by VG Meats, Simcoe, ON)

This weekend an ambassador from Ontario’s Heritage Meat will be in Michael-Angelo’s stores sampling some of the products and answering shoppers’ questions.

For store locations and sampling times please visit www.ontariosheritagemeat.ca.

About Ontario Independent Meat Processors

OIMP is the non-profit, representative voice of the independent meat processor in Ontario. OIMP provides leadership for Ontario’s meat and poultry industry by fostering innovation, promoting food safety and integrity and recognizing excellence. The meat sector represents 20% of Ontario’s $33 billion food and beverage processing sector, which directly employs over 110,000 people and more than an additional 100,000 workers in related industries.

2011 Charity B.B.Q's

A special thanks to all our customers and staff who came out to show their support at our Charity B.B.Q's.

ALL proceeds from the sales of the B.B.Q.'s were donated to our local area hospitals.  Our Mississauga location raised $1330.00 in support of The Credit Valley Hospital Foundation and our Markham location raised $750.00 in support of The Markham Stouffville Hospital Foundation.  The monies raised will be allocated towards both hospital expansion programs.

Michael-Angelo's Third Annual Charity Car Show

A special thanks goes out to everyone who came out to our Third Annual Charity Car Show despite the less than ideal weather conditions.  While the big clouds hovered up above, they were no match for the passion of all car enthusiasts!

Many of you came out to show your support for this outstanding community event. Through your generosity we were able to raise $1850.00.   All proceeds will once again be donated to Breast Cancer Research at The Carlo Fidani Peel Region Cancer Centre at The Credit Valley Hospital.

Our heartfelt thanks goes out to our Organizers, John and Steve who spent countless hours working to make this event a success.  An event like this could not be possible without the generous support of our volunteers, fellow tenants and suppliers.

Donors:
Coca Cola Bottling
Weston Bakeries
Canada Bread
Saputo
Unico/Primo
Italpasta
Maple Leaf Foods
Santa Maria Foods
Frito Lay Chips
Halton Transmission
Palma Pasta
F.G. Lister & Co. Ltd.
Western Bakeries
Baskin Robbins
Granite Ridge Golf Club
Faming Edge
Mastermind
Russell Produce
North American Produce
Hakim Optical
Applewood Chev Olds
Motor Headz
Unisource

Mark you calendars for May 21, 2012, as we begin to prepare for our BIGGEST event yet!

Hong Kong's Most Famous Movie Star Visits Michael-Angelo's

Hong Kong superstar, Eric Tsang, took time out of his busy schedule to visit our Markham location on Wednesday, April 20th.  Mr. Tsang is in town to assist with an upcoming Charitable Benefit.  While at the store, he enjoyed a piece of our Angelico's signature lasagna!

Tom Cunningham has been a loyal Michael-Angelo’s customer for years. Like many customers he is drawn to the fresh and quality produce chosen daily by the Mississauga-based independent franchise at the Ontario Food Terminal. Last summer, Tom had an operation which limited his mobility for a while. The staff at Michael-Angelo’s knew about this, and would deliver Tom’s grocery list to him while he waited in his car. Sure, it’s a small anecdote but it illustrates what type of business Michael-Angelo’s is; one that prides itself on being an important part of the neighbourhood, which wants its customers to feel like family.
“Because we are family owned and operated, [our customers] feel it’s their store and we love to provide that service to them,” says Michael Pugliese, President and CEO of Michael-Angelo’s. “When our consumer comes into the store, we want them to feel like it’s their store too and most of them feel that way because they see the same people all the time.”
The business was started by Pugliese’s father, Angelo, and many family members are involved with the supermarket to this day. “For almost half a century, the Pugliese family has been dedicated to a simple, but enduring principle—we will provide our customers with unrivalled quality, freshness and variety at reasonable prices,” says Pugliese.
After establishing and running a popular market in downtown Toronto for years, the family decided to branch out into the suburbs, a landscape overwhelmed with big-box stores. In 1972, Michael-Angelo’s opened in Markham. The company expanded again in 1985 to Mississauga with a full-service supermarket complex on a six acre lot. Customers responded to what the Puglieses were trying to accomplish—a fresh food market in a suburban environment.

Steeped in tradition

Steady growth in the business and size of the stores hasn’t prevented Michael-Angelo’s from maintaining a stalwart commitment to the fresh quality products and better selection on which the company was built. To create this atmosphere, the periphery of the entire store is lined with produce, and an astounding 25 per cent of the floor space is dedicated to produce, “which is unheard of in the supermarket business,” notes Pugliese. “When you walk into the store, you instantly recognize this is not your typical set up.”
Both Markham and Mississauga are proudly ethnically diverse communities, something that is reflected on the shelves of Michael-Angelo’s. Knowing that today’s customers have a variety of options, the store caters to the customer looking for a range of flavours and foods.   The stores proved an international group of products for the growing Asian and Indian markets and provide the old-world European brands customers cannot find elsewhere.
Further distinguishing itself, Michael-Angelo’s has a reputation of providing organic and gluten-free foods, years before it became the domain of the specialty stores. “Whether it is frozen products, dry products or baked goods, we try to bring in as much of those types of products,” he says. “Over the years we have evolved into a store that carries superior quality at supermarket prices.”

The importance of convenience

With a foot placed firmly in the tradition, Michael-Angelo’s is branching out and embracing technology to better serve customers and to suit their lifestyle. The company has implemented a new on-line shopping service where customers can place an order to be delivered to their front door.   “We recognize that our survival as an independent depends on these niche markets. During these times, we have to be more competitive because we are smaller,” says Pugliese.  

Continual growth

At a time when major supermarket chains are struggling to stay alive, Michael-Angelo’s simple approach has resulted in healthy profits. The company is considering potentially revisiting its roots and opening an urban market in the near future because it believes it has implemented a winning team. “Expansion is in the horizon,” says Pugliese. “We have the people that have been with me for a long time, our corporate environment has changed. Our key employees have been there for 15 to 20 years. They know the standards and what they need to do in order to achieve those results.”
Michael-Angelo’s is singular in its position as a middle ground between high-end and mass market chains. Having carved out a perfect area in the market, Michael-Angelo’s is a thriving Canadian business whose success is the result of staying on trend with the market, knowing its customer base and providing consistent quality products.  

Canadian Business Journal, March 2011

Markham Board of Trade Business Awards 2010

Congratulations to our Markham Store Manager, Paul Tuzi.  The Markham store was nominated one of the top 3 finalists in the category of "High Quality & Service".

Foodland Ontario Retailer Awards 2010

Congratulations to our Produce Team for being recognized for their support of locally grown produce.  Accepting the award is Produce Manger, Marco Cabral (Mississauga location).

July 26, 2010


Thank you Mississauga for VOTING us your favourite!

*Strip Mall (Platinum)
*Fruits & Vegetables (Platinum)
*Independent Grocery Store (Gold)
*Bakery (Gold)
*Take Home Foods Grocer (Silver)

We look forward to continually bringing you "Superior Quality at Supermarket Prices"!