Q&A: T&T Supermarkets Focused On First U.S. Store, And Maybe More
U.S.-based retailers for the moment are focused on the current holiday season as shoppers hit the stores for gifts and needed holiday provisions.
But a soon-to-be-competitor from north of the border is finalizing preparations for its debut in America. Scheduled to open in the summer of 2024, T&T Supermarkets will expand beyond the Canadian border for the first time when it opens a new store in Seattle. The forthcoming 76,000 square foot location will be the largest Asian supermarket in the State of Washington. The company currently operates 33 stores in Canada.
Following the expansion announcement in the summer of 2023, the grocer gave a clear indication of future growth plans in the U.S. with the hiring of Chris Pine as the company’s head of Real Estate. Pine’s deep retail and real estate experience includes a tenure as vice president of Real Estate and Development for Whole Foods Market, where his team was responsible for completing 25 to 30 stores annually in North America and England.
To gain insight on future plans for T&T Supermarkets, Store Brands spoke with Michael Hei, the company’s Marketing Director, who shared thoughts on U.S. expansion, the role of private label at T&T and what the hiring of Pine could mean to the company’s future.
STORE BRANDS: T&T will open its first U.S. store in Seattle. Why this market and why was the timing right to expand beyond Canada?
MICHAEL HEI: Bellevue has a vibrant food scene and is the perfect location for a T&T store. It's also close to Vancouver, where our headquarters are located. On any given day, you can find U.S. license plates in our British Columbia stores, highlighting the demand from those customers. It took us a while to find the right location, and once we discovered the Marketplace in Factoria, we knew it was the right time for us to come.
STORE BRANDS: Will the U.S. store replicate T&T’s Canadian stores or will there be products or services that will be offered specific for U.S. shoppers?
HEI: We definitely want to bring as much of our assortment from Canada as possible, plus some exciting U.S.-only products. Our goal is to make our customers happy and make sure there’s always something more to come back for.
STORE BRANDS: What makes T&T unique from grocers in the U.S.?
HEI: T&T is more than just a grocery store, it’s a food destination. In addition to the specialty Asian cuisine the stores have become famous for, the new location will feature a sushi counter, hot food bar, noodle station, in-store kitchen and bakery for freshly prepared dishes like steamed buns and pork belly bao, as well as Asian pastries and cakes. The store will also be home to more than 300 of T&T’s private label products, including customer favorites like green onion pancakes, Korean kalbi marinade, juicy pork dumplings and seaweed snacks.
STORE BRANDS: Private brands are an important part of T&T’s assortment. What categories feature the grocer’s store brand products?
HEI: Our private label brand now has more than 400 products in 33 categories, ranging from healthy snacks, dim sum, pantry staples, cookware, and more.
STORE BRANDS: What brand is used for T&T’s store brand line?
HEI: T&T’s store brand line is our private label brand.
STORE BRANDS: Are there plans to grow T&T’s store brand assortment?
HEI: Certainly, we have a strong private label team that is always looking to expand our assortment, ensuring customers receive a wide selection of high-quality products at great prices.
STORE BRANDS: Why is the company establishing a corporate office in Los Angeles?
HEI: Many of our buyers, operating staff, and business partners are based in Los Angeles, which is why we decided to locate an office there.
STORE BRANDS: With the hiring of Chris Pine, one would assume there are plans for future growth in the U.S. Are there U.S. cities that are on T&T’s hit list?
HEI: Right now, our focus is on Bellevue, and opening an outstanding store that will excite customers in that area. Of course, we hope to do more than one store, and that’s why we have brought Chris onto the team to help us get a lay of the land. We’re new to the U.S., and we have a lot to learn. With Chris’ extensive knowledge and experience in real estate, we can’t think of anyone better to help us do that. We’re thrilled to have Chris on the team.
