After two decades in business, Sabzi Mandi Supermarket still lives up to its name. Quite literally.

In South Asian and Middle Eastern languages including Hindi and Urdu, Sabzi means ‘vegetable’ and Mandi translates as ‘market’. 

Put the two words together and you get Vegetable Market, which defines the essence of the Surrey, B.C.-based independent grocery chain.

Most of Sabzi Mandi’s customers are of South Asian heritage, and many are vegetarians. Sabzi Mandi does not stock any meats, to avoid offending its patrons. 

It focuses on vegetables, which help Sabzi Mandi’s stores serve their diverse neighbourhoods seamlessly, said Aman Narula, whose family owns the chain.

“Everybody needs fresh produce in their homes, so that’s something that transcends, organically, our customer base as well,” said Narula, the head of the company’s operations and franchising and expansion efforts.

Narula’s father Ravinder started up the business in the 1970s after immigrating to Canada from India. Ravinder settled in Saskatchewan, following his brother. After the siblings started and later sold a convenience-store chain, Ravinder moved to Vancouver. In 2003, he launched the popular Punjabi Market in a largely Indo-Canadian community on Main Street in what is now the Langara district. He and his wife Varinder built a thriving business in their leased location over the course of 16 years.

When an opportunity arose to purchase a commercial building in Surrey, the Narulas moved to the Fraser Valley and launched Sabzi Mandi. They expanded the mom-and-pop business to three stores before developing a franchise model that has produced 11 more outlets. Sabzi Mandi now comprises 14 stores in B.C. and Alberta altogether, including three corporate-owned stores with two in Surrey’s Newton area and another in Calgary. Two more franchised locations are slated to open by early 2026. Some of the franchises belong to former employees. 

While some grocery chains sell other products, and even some drugstores have added groceries, Sabzi Mandi prefers to stick to its vegetable roots. 

“At times, we focus on driving sales and driving traffic through produce, because our pricing is significantly better than the larger chains out there,” said Aman Narula. “We rely more on turnaround and volume than anything else [whereas] they’re more concerned about getting their price right.”

So competitive pricing is important, but so is having shelves full. 

“Our biggest challenge and also focus is that, when the consumer comes through our door, our shelves are stocked at all times,” said Narula. “Doesn’t matter what the situation is ongoing at that time. They get the products that are required and that they need to fulfill their basket.”