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T&T Supermarket

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T&T Supermarket
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryRetail
Founded1993; 32 years ago (1993) in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
FounderCindy Lee
Headquarters
Richmond, British Columbia
,
Canada
Number of locations
38 stores [1] (2025)
Areas served
  • Canada
  • United States
Key people
Tina Lee (CEO)
ProductsGrocery
ParentLoblaw Companies
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese大統華超市
Simplified Chinese大统华超市
Literal meaningBig United China[a] Supermarket
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyindà tǒng huá chāoshì
Websitewww.tntsupermarket.com Edit this at Wikidata

T&T Supermarket (Chinese: 大統華超市) is a Canadian Asian supermarket chain headquartered in Richmond, British Columbia. It was founded in Vancouver in 1993 by Jack and Cindy Lee who was the founding CEO.[3] Cindy's eldest daughter Tina Lee succeeded her mother in 2014.[4] In 2009, T&T Supermarket was acquired by Loblaw Companies Limited.[5]

T&T is the largest Asian supermarket chain in Canada, operating 37 locations[1] across British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, and Quebec, as well as one location in the United States. The stores range in size from 35,000 sq ft (3,300 m2) to 75,000 sq ft (7,000 m2). In addition to the many departments found in a regular supermarket, most T&T stores also feature produce, meat, seafood, baked goods, kitchenware, gifts, specialty items from various Asian cuisines,[6] hot food bar, dim sum counter, sushi counter and Hong Kong style Chinese barbecue. In 2020, they launched an online shopping platform and an app.

In 2024, T&T Supermarket opened its first U.S. store in Bellevue, Washington. The 76,000 square foot location is reportedly the largest grocery store in the state.[7] Additional U.S. locations are scheduled to open in Lynnwood, Washington in 2025, followed by stores in San Jose, San Francisco, Irvine, and Chino Hills, California in 2026.[8]

"T&T" is a reference to Cindy Lee's eldest daughters, Tina and Tiffany,[9] as well as the initials of two founding investors: Tawa Supermarket Inc. and Tung Yee Uni-President Enterprises Corp.[10]

History

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Establishment and early growth

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Taiwanese-Canadian businesswoman Cindy Lee started the business with a store located in Burnaby, British Columbia in 1993.[3]In 2009, T&T Supermarket was acquired by Loblaw Companies for $225 million in consideration, consisting of $191 million in cash and $34 million in preferred shares.[5] The consideration paid above and beyond the tangible asset base of the company (i.e. the accounting goodwill) was estimated at $180 million.[11]

The interior of T&T Supermarket

T&T experienced continued growth across Canada throughout the 2010s. In 2018, the company opened a 70,000 sq. ft. flagship store in Richmond, British Columbia, which was the first to have a live seafood bar, an Asian street food station, and self-checkouts. Industry experts dubbed the store a "grocerant" because of its restaurant-style offering.[12][13] In 2020, T&T launched its e-commerce platform, facilitating online orders and delivery of Asian food products across all provinces in Canada.[14][15]

The first T&T Supermarket in Saint-Laurent/Sainte Croix, Montreal, Quebec which is also the largest outlet in Canada

In 2022, an even larger store was opened in Saint-Laurent/Sainte Croix, Montreal, Quebec.[16] It was the first T&T store to open in Quebec and is currently the largest store in the supermarket chain.[17]

Expansion into United States

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In 2024, T&T Supermarket opened its first American location at Marketplace at Factoria in Bellevue, Washington. The outlet, spanning 76,000 square feet (7,100 m2) square feet, claims to be the largest grocery store in the state.[18] Additional U.S. locations are scheduled to open in Lynnwood, Washington in 2025, followed by stores in San Jose, San Francisco, Irvine, and Chino Hills, California in 2026.[8]

Labor relations and public reports

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During the mid-2000s, T&T continued its national expansion across Canada. In 2007, a temporary foreign worker filed a small claims case in British Columbia alleging mistreatment during his employment, including claims that his passport and documents were retained by the company.[19][20] The case was covered by The Tyee. Later that year, T&T opened additional stores in Western Canada to meet increasing consumer demand.

In 2012, the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) filed an application for union certification at a T&T warehouse in Scarborough, Ontario, citing concerns over scheduling and wage progression. A secret ballot vote was held with approximately 100 employees participating. However, the Ontario Labour Relations Board sealed the ballot box due to a dispute over voter eligibility between the company and the union.[21][22]

Awards

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In 2018, CEO Tina Lee received the Executive of the Year Award by Ascend Canada and, together with founder Cindy Lee, were awarded with the Retail Council of Canada Canadian Grand Prix Trailblazer Lifetime Achievement Award for having "demonstrated outstanding service and dedication to the Canadian retail and grocery industry."[23][24] Cindy Lee received the lifetime achievement award at the 2019 Chinese Canadian entrepreneur awards in recognition of her contributions to the Chinese Canadian business community.[25]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ As provided in the Canadian trademark registration for 'DA TUNG HUA'.[2] The Chinese name is derived from the Chinese names of 99 Ranch Market (大華超級市場) and Uni-President Enterprises Corporation (統一企業公司).

References

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  1. ^ a b "T&T Supermarket Store Location". T&T Supermarket.
  2. ^ "DA TUNG HUA Chinese Character Design — 1067488". Canadian Trademark Details. Government of Canada. Retrieved November 12, 2021. The English translation as provided by the applicant is BIG UNITED CHINA
  3. ^ a b Liu, Scarlett. "Entrepreneur's book reveals story behind Asian supermarket chain T&T". Newmarket Today. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
  4. ^ "T&T Supermarket CEO passes the torch". Canadian Grocer. Retrieved March 4, 2020.
  5. ^ a b "Loblaw buying T&T Asian food chain". CBC News. July 24, 2009. Archived from the original on July 25, 2009.
  6. ^ "T & T Supermarket – T&T Supermarket". T&T Supermarket. Retrieved November 10, 2018.
  7. ^ Huang, Nina (December 6, 2024). "T&T Supermarkets expands into U.S. with Bellevue store, largest in North America". Northwest Asian Weekly. Retrieved July 31, 2025.
  8. ^ a b Patterson, Craig. "T&T Supermarket Announces Largest California Store". Retail Insider.
  9. ^ Devlin, Megan (January 12, 2024). ""For the next generation": T&T Supermarkets CEO on store's viral origin story". Daily Hive. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
  10. ^ Eade, Ron (October 2, 2009). "T&T arrives with a bang". The Ottawa Citizen. Archived from the original on November 29, 2014. Retrieved November 19, 2014.
  11. ^ "2009 Third Quarter Report" (PDF). Loblaw Companies. p. 22. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 13, 2012. Retrieved March 4, 2012.
  12. ^ "T&T unveils flagship store in Richmond". Canadian Grocer. Retrieved March 4, 2020.
  13. ^ "Canada's largest T&T Supermarket opens in Metro Vancouver". Straight. Retrieved March 4, 2020.
  14. ^ "T&T launches e-grocery". Canadian Grocer. Retrieved March 4, 2020.
  15. ^ "T&T Supermarket launches online ordering and home delivery across Canada". DailyHive. Retrieved March 4, 2020.
  16. ^ "T&T - Our Story". T&T Supermarket. Retrieved September 13, 2024.
  17. ^ "T&T Asian Supermarket Has Chosen Its Montreal Location & It'll be the Biggest in Canada". January 21, 2022.
  18. ^ Vinh, Tan (December 5, 2024). "T&T Supermarket is now open in Bellevue". The Seattle Times. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
  19. ^ Strauss, Marina (July 23, 2012). "Loblaw locked in labour dispute at Asian supermarket chain". The Globe and Mail.
  20. ^ Sandborn, Tom (March 5, 2007). "Tricked and Exploited?". The Tyee.
  21. ^ Mendleson, Rachel (July 17, 2012). "T&T Union Certification: Asian Grocer's Warehouse Workers In Scarborough, Ontario Seek Certification". HuffPost.
  22. ^ "Loblaw locked in labour dispute at Asian supermarket chain". The Globe and Mail. July 23, 2012. Retrieved November 30, 2024.
  23. ^ "T&T Supermarket's Cindy and Tina Lee to Receive Prestigious 2018 RCC Grand Prix Trailblazer Lifetime Achievement Award". Retail Insider. Retrieved March 4, 2020.
  24. ^ "T&T Supermarkets' Cindy and Tina Lee receive RCC's 2018 Canadian Grand Prix Trailblazer Lifetime Achievement Award". Retail Council of Canada. Retrieved March 4, 2020.
  25. ^ "2019 Awards Winners". ACCE. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
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