Vince’s Markets capitalizes on its close proximity to Ontario’s Holland Marsh – a key area for tender vegetable growing – to form direct relationships with farmers of fruit, vegetables and flowers.

Vince’s Markets’ four stores in Central Ontario trace their roots to a bus operated by the three Vince brothers, who travelled along Toronto’s St. Clair Avenue peddling fruit in 1929. That business later shifted to a seasonal fruit and vegetable stand located on Leslie Street in Sharon, Ont., targeting cottagers en route to Lake Simcoe.

Carmen Trimarchi and Mario Testa bought the business from the daughter of one of the Vince brothers in 1986. Trimarchi continues to be involved. Having worked with, then bought out partners along the way, he was joined by his son, Giancarlo, 12 years ago.

Carmen immigrated to Canada with his family in 1964 from Sicily, where they were tenant farmers. Once in Toronto, he joined his uncle’s market store and went on his own when Vince’s became available for purchase.

The company’s Sharon site was organized as a year-round grocery store, expanding in 1996. In 1999, a second location was created in Newmarket, which has since expanded four times. Additional locations in nearby Uxbridge and Tottenham followed in 2009 and 2017, respectively.
Vince’s owns two of the properties and leases the other two. Owning the properties has helped build equity in the business.

“Our path has always been slow and measured,” explained Giancarlo Trimarch. Trimarchi joined his dad in the businesss12 years ago and is now president of Vince’s.

“We always grew the business on the success of the existing stores,” he said.

Produce and the store’s fresh department, which includes a salad bar and deli counter, are core offerings at each store.

In addition to nearby farmers, the Ontario Food Terminal offers Vince’s year-round access to all things fresh. The company describes the food terminal as one of the best wholesale markets available to it.

Vince’s produces meals for its customers as well. Takeout meals account for six to seven per cent of its business.