Nature's Emporium CEO Joe D'Addario has witnessed many changes in the health food sector since he and his family started the business 30 years ago.
The Newmarket-based health food grocer has changed to meet customer demands over the years, D’Addario said, as organic foods have become more popular.
But even as the business has grown and shifted, it has remained family run, with many employees working alongside family members.
"What drives me are the people that work for Nature’s Emporium, and helping them with their goals and their ambitions,” D’Addario said. “And the customers, just making a difference in people’s lives. That’s what drives me.”
Nature’s Emporium is celebrating its 30th anniversary over the next month, with giveaways, promotions and in-store events through Dec. 6.
The family began selling in a flea market in Pickering, then opened a store in Ajax, which burned down, prompting D’Addario to go elsewhere.
He found a spot in Newmarket, where the store began with humbler beginnings at 4,000 square foot of space in 1993.
“Everybody, 30 years ago, said (4,000 sq. ft.) would be too big,” he said. “But eventually, we were able to expand to where it is today, a 40,000-square-foot natural and organic supermarket. And it’s been a ride.”
From the onset, D’Addario has helped run the store, located at 16655 Yonge St. in Newmarket, alongside his family. He said his father and brother both had big parts in store management before their passing, and the rest of the family still play a variety of roles.
D’Addario’s father, Angelo, “left his legacy behind. Customers still stop me in the aisles, and say, ‘I remember your father when you guys were still in that small corner store.’ His memory lives on.”
Running the business alongside his family members means a lot to D'Addario, he said. But he added that the rest of the employees are part of that, too.
“We employ a lot of great people, which we owe a lot of success to,” he said. “We’re like a big family that works in Nature’s Emporium.”
The store began as a bulk food store with some vitamins. But as the health food industry grew and people started asking more for natural and organic products, D'Addario said they decided to cut out any “junk” food from their shelves.
“We went strictly healthy and natural and organic food,” he said. “It was the right decision to make because that’s what people wanted. From there, we just kept on growing.
“It was a slow evolution,” D'addario added
With the rise of organics came the need for education, something D'Addario said Nature’s Emporium has focused hard on.
“We educate people on what it means to eat organic food,” he said.
Nature's Emporium is also well know in the community for supporting meaningful charitable initiatives, including annually sponsoring the Run for Southlake, and helping to raise more than $3 million for priority needs at Southlake Regional Health Centre in Newmarket.
With the store celebrating with giveaways on social media, customers have responded.
“Warmest congratulations on reaching a significant milestone,” supplier Cultivar Foods said. “We are thrilled to celebrate this remarkable achievement with you.”
The store’s ability to change has kept it running for 30 years, D'Addario said.
But getting to interact with others through the store is what has kept him going.
“It’s not about money, it’s not about business, it’s making a difference in people’s lives. And Nature’s Emporium has made a tremendous difference in many, many people’s lives, and that’s what I’m most proud of.”
The store has expanded to six different Ontario locations, with Toronto and Oakville stores opening in the past few months.
D'Addario said he dreams of the store being coast-to-coast.
“Hopefully, one day we can achieve that goal, and then when I’m gone, the legacy will continue.”
