With food and drink businesses of all sizes taking a hit as COVID-19 sweeps the nation and an immense number of temporary closures, Canadians are eager to find online avenues for purchasing locally-made products. For a small business, it can be easier said than done to set up an online order system.
One Calgary-based business, Wild Tea Kombucha has opened up its virtual doors so to speak, to allow small producers to add their food and drink wares to a collaborative online store.
Pioneer Butchery and Charcuterie, Partake Brewing, Little Tucker, Micro YYC, Pilot’s Friend and Real Treat Cookies are just a handful of the 14 local brands already participating with the WTK & Friends One-Stop Online Shop. Additionally, the online shop is currently offering free (and contact-free) product delivery with purchases of $25 or more in the Calgary area.
"Now more than ever, small business needs your support. Every decision to buy local, no matter how small, [can make an] impact,” says the company's co-founder Emily Baadsvik.
Baadsvik and her team are also putting the call out to add more diversity to the current product line-up. Interested local food and drink businesses (including restaurants and bars, if they offer any sort of custom goods) are encouraged to reach out to Wild Tea Kombucha via email to have their products added to the online store.
