Ottawa Market
Ottawa Market is a new brick-and-mortar market and café set to open on Ottawa Street in Hamilton, Ontario. Building on the success of their first location, the Dundurn Market, Ottawa Market aims to promote locally grown foods sourced within 100km and to support sustainable and ethical farming practices in the Hamilton community. Ottawa Market envisions a city with a robust local economy and thriving local businesses surrounded by flourishing small-scale family farms.
The funding from the Fair Finance Fund has already been instrumental in supporting the renovation and infrastructure of the new Ottawa Market building. The financing covered the purchase of a coffee roaster, an eco-friendly espresso machine, fridges, freezers, renovations, and inventory. This investment ensures that Ottawa Market can offer a diverse range of products and services to the Hamilton community, enhancing their ability to support local food producers.
Ottawa Market's mission is to increase the demand and accessibility for locally grown and produced foods, thereby supporting small-scale organic farms and food producers. The market envisions cities with robust local economies surrounded by flourishing small-scale family farms.
The support from the Fair Finance Fund will further enable Ottawa Market to create three to five new full-time jobs, providing living wages to employees and supporting the local economy. By increasing their capacity to offer more local food products, Ottawa Market will support numerous local food vendors and reduce food miles by expanding their delivery area. The market’s investment in another emission-free vehicle will further contribute to reducing the carbon footprint associated with food distribution.
Through the expansion, Ottawa Market hopes to meaningfully increase access to healthy, nutritious food in the Hamilton community. By prioritizing locally sourced products, the market will help reduce the environmental impact of food transportation, supporting a more sustainable local food system. The new retail space will allow Ottawa Market to offer a variety of local food products, fostering stronger relationships with local farmers and producers.
The market will also implement eco-friendly practices, such as using a zero-emissions, all-electric coffee roaster and investing in a European-made electric-assisted cargo bike with a larger payload capacity. These initiatives will help Ottawa Market reduce its environmental footprint and serve as a model for sustainable business practices in the community.
Ottawa Market recognizes that its biggest challenge is the price squeeze from big-box grocery stores. To combat this, the market focuses on providing excellent service and carrying harder-to-find, locally-made items that are in demand. By positioning itself as a local, speciality food supplier, Ottawa Market aims to attract customers seeking unique and high-quality products. Staying relevant to consumers is another constant challenge. Ottawa Market plans to resonate with its customers by actively listening to their needs and engaging with them through social media, email questionnaires, and in-person conversations. This customer-centric approach will ensure that the market remains attuned to the preferences and desires of its clientele, fostering loyalty and community support.
The support from the Fair Finance Fund is crucial for Ottawa Market's expansion, enabling the market to enhance its infrastructure, increase its product offerings, and strengthen its role as a community-focused local food hub. With a commitment to sustainability, local sourcing, and excellent customer service, Ottawa Market is poised to make a significant positive impact on the Hamilton community and beyond.
