F N Good Foods is celebrating its one year anniversary here in Pembroke and Owner Catharine Donovan has a taken a moment or two to reflect on the year that was.
Since opening her doors a year ago, Catharine has striven to provide the highest quality products adjusting her offerings to what her customers have been asking for. How easy is it to adapt on the fly you ask? Catharine will tell you:
Audio PlayerThe initial idea was not to provide a dining environment but to offer seasonings and various condiments for customer’s own home use but it morphed into the current model simply by virtue of demand. Catharine recognized that a shift needs to be made in order to get back to the original plan:
Audio PlayerThe word of the year seems to be “tariff” with every other news story telling us that everything is going to be more expensive as a result and that “Buying Canadian ” and shunning American offerings is the way to combat this. One of the many new products that Catharine has made available is candy which is not from Canada but from Europe, which is where she says she found the quality she was looking for. Last year she had a small ice cream stand that was popular during the summer months. Testament to the fact that one must pivot regularly in order to continue to remain viable.
So what can we expect in year two from F N Good Foods? Catharine shares one of the main focus points going forward:
Audio PlayerAmong the newest offerings Catharine has is a variety of various teas for sale as well as offering shelf space to other small food product producers in The Valley for sale in her store as a means of promoting the “buy local” battle cry even more strongly. Year two promises to be just as interesting as the first according to Catharine, and she wouldn’t have it any other way.
F N Good Foods is at 53 Pembroke St W and is open 7 days a week. Come on in and wish Catharine a happy first birthday!
(Written By: Richard Evans)