2024
VAUGHAN, ON – Today, Longo Brothers Fruit Markets (“Longo’s”), a family-operated Canadian grocery chain renowned for its commitment to quality and community, proudly celebrates a significant milestone with the o pening of its 40th store at 1950 (Unit F) Fischer-Hallman Road in Kitchener. This new location not only marks Longo’s enduring presence in Ontario since its founding in 1956 by brothers Tommy, Joe, and Gus Longo, but also underscores its evolution from a small family fruit market into a thriving community staple dedicated to value, family standards, and sustainable practices.
Longo’s is proud to bring its award-winning grocery experience to Kitchener, offering the same beloved products, exceptional service, and freshness that have made it a household name across Ontario. Voted the #1 grocery store in Ontario by WOW Leger, Longo’s continues to be recognized for its unwavering commitment to quality, service, and community. Adding to this achievement, Longo’s was honoured today with the prestigious Canada’s Most Admired Corporate Cultures award by Waterstone Human Capital for the fourth time, securing a coveted spot in their Hall of Fame.
"Celebrating our 40th store opening is a special milestone, one that honours the vision my family started in 1956 with a small fruit market. We’ve been able to grow over the last 68 years because of the trust and shared values we have with the communities we serve. We’re proud to continue the Longo’s legacy in Kitchener and look forward to being a part of the community," said Anthony Longo, CEO, Longo’s.
The new Kitchener location is committed to providing an exceptional Guest experience, from fresh produce and meat, s ustainable seafood, Market-style bakery and deli to Starbucks®, ready-to-go meals from Pronto Eats, and unique offerings like fresh squeezed orange juice, hand-stretched mozzarella, the Epic Cookie program, the Loft Cooking School and so much more.
As part of Longo’s’ dedication to supporting communities in living healthier, happier lives, the Kitchener store incorporates sustainable innovations, including energy-efficient LED lighting and refrigeration systems that utilize CO2 for a reduced environmental impact. Additionally, in line with its commitment to fighting food waste, Longo’s Kitchener is participating in the brand’s partnership with Too Good To Go, the world’s top anti-food waste organization, giving community members access to fresh food while reducing waste.
To celebrate this 40th store milestone, Longo’s invited the Kitchener community to the Grand Opening event. The first 250 Guests received mystery gift cards valued from $5 to $400. True to tradition, the opening day festivities included cake, delicious products to try, and Longo’s symbolic “apple bite” to mark the beginning of another exciting chapter.
“Being part of this milestone opening is deeply meaningful to me. Our 40th store represents our commitment to quality and community, and we’re thrilled to be opening our doors in Kitchener,” said Brad Boin, Store Manager, Longo’s Kitchener. “Thank you to the Kitchener community for welcoming us; we look forward to serving our new neighbours and building lasting connections in the area.”
Earlier this year, Longo’s launched its partnership with the beloved OHL Kitchener Rangers as the team’s official fueling partner. Through the partnership, Longo’s has been able to foster deep connections with the Kitchener community, supporting at games, festivals, and events all year. Longo’s is proud of the partnership and excited to cheer for the Kitchener Rangers this season.
Looking to the future, Longo’s will continue its expansion, with new stores in Kleinburg and Colossus scheduled to open in 2025. This will give more communities access to Longo’s commitment to fresh, quality food. Longo’s is proud to continue its mission to uphold family standards, provide quality food, and support Canadian communities through the Longo Family Foundation. The store is now open to the public and will be managed by Brad Boin, who has been with the company since 2000. Regular store hours are Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. - 9 p.m., and Saturday to Sunday, 7 a.m. - 8 p.m.
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About Longo Brothers Fruit Markets Longo’s is a family-operated Canadian organization that started in 1956 when three brothers, Tommy, Joe and Gus opened their first fruit market. What began as a small family-run store has since grown to a company that operates 40 stores in communities across Toronto and the GTA. Today, Longo’s maintains the same family-based values as they did over 68 years ago, putting Family Standards at the heart of everything they do. Longo’s is proud to serve their Guests the quality standard of food they believe every family deserves, and to give back to the communities they operate in through the Longo Family Foundation. For more information, please visit Longos.com or follow @LongosMarkets on Instagram and Facebook. Media Contact: Mitali Gupta | mitali@bluedoor.agency
MISSISSAUGA, ON – Longo Brothers Fruit Markets (“Longo’s”) is proud to officially open the doors to the 39th location this Wednesday, May 15, in Mississauga’s Meadowvale neighbourhood. Located at 2975 Argentia Rd, Longo’s Meadowvale offers a robust selection of the freshest produce and meat, sustainably sourced seafood, market-style bakery and deli, Guest-favourite EPIC cookies and freshly squeezed orange juice, Starbucks®, ready-to-go meals from the Kitchen, a sushi & poke bar, and so much more.
For over three generations, Longo's has been dedicated to providing Guests with high-quality products, exceptional customer service, and a commitment to supporting local partners. This opening is the 5th store in Mississauga and represents a culmination of Longo’s unwavering commitment to serving the communities in which it operates.
Longo’s is a well-known staple in the grocery community for its focus on having the highest family standards, and is proud to have been named the #1 grocery store in Ontario in the annual Leger WOW survey.
Interviews and exclusive photo opportunities are available on-site and upon request. We have included the date details below. Please let us know if you’re able to join!
WHO:
Deb Craven, President, Longo’s
Anthony Longo, CEO, Longo’s
Gino Calabrese, Store Manager
WHEN:
Wednesday, May 15, 2024 | 8am store opening, interviews 10:30 - noon.
EVENT HIGHLIGHTS:
- Entrance of first Guests clapped in by Longo Team Members (8am)
- Celebratory Apple Bite (Longo’s “ribbon-cutting” tradition)
- The first 250 guests will receive a mystery gift card valued between $5 and $500
- A celebration with cake, coffee, and sampling throughout the store
WHERE:
Longo’s Meadowvale, 2975 Argentia Rd, Mississauga, ON L5N 0A2
MEDIA CONTACT:
Anastasia Semionov| Blue Door Agency (647) 405-6912 | asemionov@bluedoor.agency
2023
TORONTO, ON – Call2Recycle, Canada’s leading battery collection and recycling program, and Longo’s, a leading grocer, are pleased to announce their new collaboration to offer Guests convenient battery recycling at 37 Longo’s stores across the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). With this partnership, Longo’s becomes the first grocery chain in Ontario to provide this important program, and continues to drive positive and sustainable changes towards waste reduction.
This expansion adds to the opportunities Longo’s Guests have to lessen their impact on the environment by returning end-of-life batteries to their local store on their next shopping trip.
“At Longo’s we are committed to minimizing our overall impact on the environment and do everything we can to ensure we fuel happier and healthier lives,” said Deb Craven, President, Longo’s. “Our partnership with Call2Recycle reinforces our commitment to Environmental Stewardship, one of our three Sustainability Pillars. The battery recycling program provides a significant opportunity for ourselves and our Guests to divert waste and lessen our impact on the environment.”
“Call2Recycle is excited to begin this collaboration with Longo’s as part of our efforts to make it easier and more convenient for Canadians to recycle batteries”, said Joe Zenobio, President of Call2Recycle Canada. “Through this partnership with a leading, like-minded organization, we continue taking a leading role in the province to expand battery recycling diversion and educate Ontarians about safe recycling practices in a manner that is approachable and accessible. We are pleased to partner with the Longo’s team and give Ontarians the opportunity to drop batteries off on their next shopping trip and protect the environment effortlessly.”
Longo’s launched its battery recycling program at 37 stores in the GTA on September 12, 2023, joining Call2Recycle’s network of over 2,600 convenient battery collection sites in the province, to encourage Ontarians to adopt environmentally-friendly habits by making battery recycling part of their regular shopping routine. Collected batteries will be sent for processing, where valuable materials like metal alloys are retrieved and used to produce new products like silverware, bikes and golf clubs – contributing to a circular economy. Both Longo’s and Call2Recycle have developed long-standing relationships with Ontario communities and share a common vision of encouraging Canadians to adopt environmentally responsible practices.
Call2Recycle offers Ontarians the highest accessibility rate in Canada to battery recycling drop-off locations, with over 98% of Ontarians located within 15 km of a battery collection point. With thousands of visitors each year, Longo’s stores will help increase accessibility and recycling volumes even further in southern Ontario.
To find the nearest battery collection site near you, including one of Longo’s 37 stores, please visit: https://www.call2recycle.ca/locator/
About Call2Recycle Canada, Inc.
Call2Recycle® is Canada’s leading organization for battery collection and recycling, fulfilling product stewardship obligations on behalf of over 400 members, including producers of single-use and rechargeable batteries. It is the provincially-approved consumer battery collection and recycling program for British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Quebec, and Prince Edward Island, and operates as a registered Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) in Ontario according to the Ontario Batteries Regulation. Call2Recycle accepts household batteries (weighing up to 5 kg) for recycling and eTransport batteries used to power eBikes, eScooters, eSkateboards, Hoverboards and Electric Vehicles (EVs).
Since its inception in 1997, Call2Recycle has diverted over 40 million kilograms of batteries from Canadian landfills. This reputation for excellence has enabled Call2Recycle to maintain trusted, long-term relationships with stakeholders and a network of more than 10,000 participating collection locations across Canada, including at leading retailers and municipal facilities.
About Longo Brothers Fruit Market
Longo’s is a family-operated Canadian organization that started in 1956 when three brothers, Tommy, Joe and Gus opened their first fruit market. What began as a small family-run store has since grown to a company that operates 37 stores in communities across Toronto and the GTA. Today, Longo’s maintains the same family-based values as they did over 65 years ago, putting Family Standards at the heart of everything they do. Longo’s is proud to serve their Guests the quality standard of food they believe every family deserves, and to give back to the communities they operate in through the Longo Family Foundation.
To learn more about Longo’s’ commitment to minimizing its impact on the environment and sustainability goals can be found in its 2022 Sustainability Report.
For more information, please visit Longos.com or follow @LongosMarkets on Instagram, Facebook, X, and YouTube.
Media Contact
Call2Recycle: Charles-Antoine Dubois, Bilingual Corporate Communications Manager,
Email: cadubois@appelarecycler.ca, Mobile: 647-464-7381
Longo’s: Melissa Prince, External Communications, Blue Door Agency
E-mail: melissa@bluedoor.com, Phone: 416.451.2233
Deb delivers decades of executive experience across Nike Canada, Purolator Inc., Mark’s, and Sport Check
Toronto, ON (May 8, 2023) – Longo’s, a leading grocery retailer, announced today the appointment of Deborah (Deb) Craven as its new President. Deb will be responsible for leading the company's day-to-day business and ongoing growth strategy, while overseeing its almost 6,000 employees across 37 locations. Her appointment marks the first female president for the organization.
Deb joined Longo's in 2019 as the Chief Financial Officer and later became the Chief Operating Officer. During her tenure at Longo's, she successfully delivered exceptional growth while architecting the extraordinary expansion of the company. As a seasoned executive with previous experience at Nike Canada, Purolator Inc., Mark’s, Sport Chek and more, Deb brings a wealth of expertise to her new role.
“I am thrilled by the opportunity to lead Longo’s - delivering on our growth strategy, creating value for Guests and continuing to nurture a culture for our Team Members that makes Longo’s one of the best and most rewarding places to work,” said Deb. “Longo's is at the forefront of the grocery industry, leading by example across sustainability, environmental stewardship, commitment to local, and placing people at the forefront of it all. I have a great sense of humility to be in a position to build on this important legacy.”
Anthony Longo has been the President and CEO of Longo’s for over 25 years. The growth, innovation and continued focus on the culture of treating everyone like family is what makes Longo’s the strong business that it is. Anthony will continue to serve as Longo’s CEO and Executive Chairman of the Board. He will shift his focus towards developing the company's long-term strategy, growth, and real estate, while still providing strategic guidance and oversight.
"Deb is a proven leader with an exceptional track record of business strategy, financial management and passion for driving best-in-class Guest experiences and brand loyalty," said Anthony Longo. "Her vast experience, extensive understanding of the organization and deep commitment to the well-being of Team Members, Guests, and our communities will ensure that Longo’s continues to deliver on our family values."
Founded in 1956 as a small fruit market in Toronto, Longo’s has since become a leading grocery retailer with 37 locations across Ontario. Longo’s has a history of empowering women in leadership roles, and the appointment of Deb as the first female President further exemplifies this commitment. Longo's is proud to have a diverse leadership team that represents the best and brightest in the industry.
“One of the main reasons for this change is to create a structure that will drive results and help us continue to fuel happier and healthier lives. We have always been focused on developing our leadership talent and succession planning so that we have the right people in the right roles to ensure long-term success. Deb is the right leader to build on the strong leadership of Longo’s. She embodies the Longo’s culture and will pioneer the organization into the next phase of our growth with a clear strategic vision and focus on executional excellence,” Longo added.
Mike Longo, who has served as the Chief Merchandising Officer since 2020, has been appointed to the role of Chief Operating Officer. In his new role, Mike continues to be responsible for the Merchandising department, and will take on responsibility to lead the company's day-to-day Operations. Bringing Merchandising and Operations together will provide stronger alignment to these two key executional areas of the business. Mike will work closely with Deb and the leadership team to design and execute best-in-class Guest and Team Member experiences to set Longo’s up for success in existing stores as well as a strong platform of growth for new ones.
Longo’s will be opening its 38th location this summer in Brooklin, Ontario.
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About Longo Brothers Fruit Market
Longo’s is a family-operated Canadian organization that started in 1956 when three brothers, Tommy, Joe and Gus opened their first fruit market. What began as a small family-run store has since grown to a company that operates 37 stores in communities across Toronto and the GTA. Today, Longo’s maintains the same family-based values as they did over 65 years ago, putting Family Standards at the heart of everything they do. Longo’s is proud to serve their Guests the quality standard of food they believe every family deserves, and to give back to the communities they operate in through the Longo Family Foundation.
For more information, please visit Longos.com or follow @LongosMarkets on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.
Media Contact Melissa Prince, External Communications Blue Door Agency melissa@bluedoor.com 416.451.2233
2022
Toronto, ON. August 30, 2022.
Too Good To Go, the world's largest marketplace for surplus food, is excited to officially announce its partnership with Longo's to accelerate their mission to reduce food waste across Ontario. All 36 Longo's grocery stores are part of the important program, which marks a significant milestone for Too Good To Go.
Too Good To Go connects consumers to surplus food through their app. When there is excess food from local restaurants and grocery stores, it is available for ? the retail price. As an example, consumers can expect to receive $24 worth of food items for $7.99. This is great value for consumers while being good for the planet.
Since the company was founded in 2016, Too Good to Go users have saved more than 156 million meals from thousands of partners in 17 countries. Using the Too Good To Go app, Longo's Guests are now part of a global community, saving food from landfills through Surprise Bags. Longo's will be offering a variety of Surprise Bags at different price points at each location in categories such as baked goods and prepared foods.
"Longo's is leading the way, showing the importance of major retailers to take the issue of food waste as seriously as the problem demands," said Sam Kashani, Too Good To Go Country Manager. "As the largest Canadian grocery store to join us in the fight against food waste, Longo's joins more than 165,000 businesses across the world who have pledged to be part of the solution. We're thrilled to partner with them and know that they will have a measurable impact on the future of food waste reduction in Canada."
Food waste is particularly relevant in Canada as:
58% of all food in Canada goes to waste relative to the global average of 40%.
Food waste accounts for 10% of all greenhouse gas emissions, nine percentage points more than all global flight travel.
Per Canadian family, that waste accumulates to almost $1,800 yearly.
Longo's is demonstrating great leadership by helping to put the spotlight on the seriousness of the food waste issue. The partnership is well aligned with Longo's sustainability pillars of environmental stewardship and responsible sourcing, and provides a significant stepping stone towards Longo's' pledge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. "Food waste is a global issue that cannot be ignored. Too Good to Go is an incredible organisation working to be a part of the solution," said Anthony Longo, President and CEO of Longo's. "Partnering with Too Good To Go supports our goals to reduce emissions, contributes to our bold zero waste ambitions, and gets us closer to achieving our goal of reaching 90% landfill diversion by 2025." Saving one Surprise Bag is the equivalent of 2.5kg of CO2 emissions, empowering the individual Guest to play an essential role in the global fight against food waste. The Too Good To Go app is available for iOS download in the Apple App Store and Google Play for Android. All Longo's locations can be found by searching Longo's on the app.
About Longo's Brothers Fruit Market
Longo's is a family-operated Canadian organization that started in 1956 when three brothers, Tommy, Joe and Gus, opened their first fruit market. What began as a small family-run store has since grown to a company that operates 36 stores in communities across Toronto and the GTA, as well as Grocery Gateway, the leader in online sales of home-delivered groceries. Today, Longo's maintains the same family-based values as they did 65 years ago, putting Family Standards at the heart of everything they do. Longo's is proud to serve their Guests the quality standard of food they believe every family deserves and to give back to the communities they operate in through the Longo's Family Charitable Foundation.
About Too Good To Go
Too Good To Go, a certified B Corp, is a social impact company leading the food waste revolution to create a greener planet. Their app connects consumers to surplus food from local restaurants and grocery stores, such as pastries, fresh produce, sushi and more, which would otherwise be thrown away to make room for the next batch of goods. Each meal rescued equates to the CO2e emission of charging one smartphone fully 422 times. Founded in 2016, Too Good To Go has saved more than 158 million meals from more than 165,000 partners in 17 countries. Beyond the app, Too Good To Go has launched initiatives to change date labelling on food, produced free educational resources for schools, and inspired households to change food waste behaviours. Visit toogoodtogo.ca for more information and follow us at www.instagram.com/toogoodtogo.can. ###
Contact Sarah Soteroff
PR Manager, Canada 416.838.0077 ssoteroff@toogoodtogo.ca
Melissa Prince
Blue Door Agency
melissa@bluedoor.agency
SOURCE: Too Good To Go
TORONTO, Sept. 20, 2022 /CNW/ - Today, Kitchen Hub, Canada's first virtual food hall, opens its fourth location inside Longo's Liberty Village, kicking off the start of a longer-term partnership with the Toronto-based grocery chain. This opening marks the first ghost kitchen concept to open inside a grocery store in the city — and the first of its kind in Canada. Future location opportunities are being explored.
Kitchen Hub, known for providing unbelievable takeout, has four new kitchens at Longo's Liberty Village. There is a full menu of items from Toronto's beloved Thai restaurant PAI, Montreal's buzz-worthy Mandy's Gourmet Salads, rapidly-growing fried chicken and burger spot Cabano's Comfort Food and authentic Mexican fare from Elia Herrera of Colibri with Tecolote. Customers can mix and match items from all four restaurants as well as add grab-and-go offerings from The Cheesecake Factory Bakery, and Elle Dee Bakery. Longo's ready-to-eat items like housemade pizza, bento sushi boxes, salads, roasted chickens and all-day breakfast will also be available. All items can be ordered through Kitchen Hub's on-site kiosks as well as from KitchenHub.com or third-party delivery apps for contactless ordering, pick-up, dine-in or delivery.
"We are always looking for new ways to exceed the demands of the quickly evolving takeout channel," says Adam Armeland, Kitchen Hub Co-Founder and CEO. "We identified an incredible opportunity to not only expand our business model by adding a completely new style of virtual food hall, but also benefit our grocery partner by driving foot traffic in-store and our customers by providing streamlined access to unbelievable takeout in a way that's never been done before. We are thrilled to partner with Longo's, another Toronto-founded brand, for this exciting new expansion."
"At Longo's, our Guests are always looking for delicious food as well as increasingly convenient ways to shop for quality meal solutions. We understand the changing demands and behaviors of our Guests and take pride in always evolving to deliver the best shopping experience possible" said Anthony Longo, President and CEO of Longo's. "Kitchen Hub's collection of curated offerings from top-tier brands will ensure that we continue to elevate, innovate, and appeal to our Guests. We are excited to deliver this new offering to our Liberty Village community."
Kitchen Hub first opened its doors in 2020, providing infrastructure and services for restaurants to expand with low overhead costs, allowing them to reach new customers while maintaining control of their food production. The brand has also developed proprietary technology, providing restaurant partners with a fully integrated suite of products and access to backend data in real-time. With these analytics, Kitchen Hub and its restaurant partners gain further insight into localized consumer trends and hone in offerings to reflect location-specific demands.
Kitchen Hub offers pickup or delivery via KitchenHub.com, all major third-party delivery services and from all Toronto locations: 935 The Queensway (Etobicoke), 234 Parliament Street (Downtown East), 1121 Castlefield Avenue (Castlefield Design + Decor District) and the newly launched 1100 King St West, (Liberty Village). To celebrate the new Liberty Village location, Kitchen Hub will offer customers free delivery and $10 off their first online order (min. $40) at KitchenHub.com using the promo code: LIBERTY10 through to October 14, 2022. Not to be combined with other offers.
ABOUT KITCHEN HUB FOOD HALL
Kitchen Hub creates unbelievable takeout experiences. As Canada's first virtual food hall, Kitchen Hub is revolutionizing the takeout and delivery industry by bringing celebrated restaurants together under one roof. At all four GTA locations, customers can select menu items from all of Kitchen Hub's partners, resulting in a combination of foods they love — all in one takeout order. The concept allows for the surrounding neighbourhoods to have access to restaurants that previously were not in the delivery zone, while offering restaurants a viable business model for takeout by providing kitchen space, technology and services to expand with low upfront costs. Kitchen Hub was founded in early 2020, bringing together experts across the hospitality, technology and real estate industries. For more information visit KitchenHub.com or hear more from the brand's founders here.
ABOUT LONGO'S BROTHERS FRUIT MARKET
Longo's is a family-operated Canadian organization that started in 1956 when three brothers, Tommy, Joe and Gus, opened their first fruit market. What began as a small family-run store has since grown to a company that operates 36 stores in communities across Toronto and the GTA, as well as Grocery Gateway, the leader in online sales of home-delivered groceries. Today, Longo's maintains the same family-based values as they did 65 years ago, putting Family Standards at the heart of everything they do. Longo's is proud to serve their Guests the quality standard of food they believe every family deserves and to give back to the communities they operate in through the Longo Family Charitable Foundation.
SOURCE Kitchen Hub
For further information: or interview opportunities, please contact: Amanda Albert, Account Manager, BPR, 647-567-7463, amanda.a@thisisbpr.com; Longo's contact info: Melissa Prince, Senior Account Director, Blue Door Agency, 416-451-2233, melissa@bluedoor.agency
This Earth Day, Bike Share Toronto and Longo's have partnered up to provide $1.00 rides across the GTA. The campaign encourages Torontonians to think sustainably on Earth Day and use bike sharing to pick up groceries, travel to an appointment, or just tour the city, all for a buck a ride.
Managed by the Toronto Parking Authority, Bike Share Toronto is a key component of the city's transportation, transit, and mobility network with 6,850 bikes across 625 stations. Bike Share Toronto is an environmentally friendly and green mode of travel and is slated for significant expansion to meet demand and popularity.
"Our Bike Share Toronto program has been providing residents with a green and clean way to get around Toronto for many years. This Earth Day we're encouraging more residents to come out and enjoy Bike Share with $1 rides. This is a great way to experience Bike Share and to get around the city. Thank you to Longo's and Bike Share for this partnership in celebration of Earth Day," said Mayor John Tory.
While Earth Day is on April 22, Bike Share Toronto and Longo's hope this campaign will encourage more people to make use of the bike share network throughout the year, especially as more people are now returning to work.
"We're very excited to partner with Longo's for Earth Day and grateful for their sponsorship which gives Torontonians the opportunity to get outside and take a bike share ride for only a dollar," said Toronto Parking Authority President Scott Collier. "Whether you are a regular customer or want to try bike sharing for the first time, we encourage everyone to take advantage of this special rate on this important day."
Longo's s commitment to environmental stewardship, responsible sourcing, and healthy, happy people makes them an excellent partner for Bike Share Toronto.
"We are proud to partner with Bike Share because we know that when we embrace the power of bike sharing - we embrace active people, smart cities and a healthy planet," said Anthony Longo, President and CEO of Longo's. "We know we all have a part to play in fighting climate change and that small, everyday choices like riding a bike to work, to school or to the grocery store can go a long way."
Longo's recent Sustainability Report highlights key successes already underway including reducing greenhouse gas emissions and diverting 71.8% of waste from a landfill.
"Bike Share Toronto has seen incredible growth as it continues to provide a convenient first and last mile transportation option for everyday travel," said Collier. "In 2021 alone, Torontonians clocked in 3.5 million rides which is a testament to its growth and popularity."
About Toronto Parking Authority
The Toronto Parking Authority (TPA) strives to become the world's best provider of sustainable parking, bike share and last-mile mobility experiences by creating a seamless customer experience that delivers on choice, ease, and speed through the City. TPA is an independent agency of the City of Toronto and contributes significant revenues to the City's general reserves – over $1.3 billion since 2002 – used to fund essential City programs. Green P remains one of the most trusted brands for transportation services in the GTHA, contributing to the vibrancy and growth of businesses and residents in the communities it serves. TPA is focused on becoming an integrated part of Toronto's transportation network and is committed to supporting Climate Action through its expansion of Electric Vehicle charging and Bike Share services.
About Longo's
Longo's is a family-operated Canadian organization that started in 1956 when three brothers, Tommy, Joe and Gus opened their first fruit market. What began as a small family-run store has since grown to a company that operates 36 stores in communities across Toronto and the GTA, as well as Grocery Gateway, the leader in online sales of home-delivered groceries. Today, Longo's maintains the same family-based values as they did 65 years ago, putting Family Standards at the heart of everything they do. Longo's is proud to serve their Guests the quality standard of food they believe every family deserves, and to give back to the communities they operate in through the Longo's Family Foundation. SOURCE Bike Share Toronto For further information: Media
Contacts:
Bike Share Toronto: Rita Mezzanotte, ritamezz@me.com, 416-271-0667 mobile;
Longo's: Laura Silver, Blue Door Agency, laura@bluedoor.agency
2021
Longo’s has now held the “Most Admired Corporate Culture” award for nearly a decade
TORONTO, Dec. 17, 2021 - Longo Brothers Fruit Market (“Longo’s”) is pleased to announce that it is the recipient of the prestigious 2021 Canada's Most Admired Corporate Cultures award presented by Waterstone Human Capital.
Recognized as a mark of excellence in culture and performance, the award highlights organizations who are setting the bar high and have demonstrated true vision, leadership and excellence in corporate social responsibility.
For Longo’s, this award is uniquely memorable as they are now the first grocery retailer in Canada to win this award for the third time in a row.
"We are immensely proud that we have one of the lowest turnover rates in the business as a direct result of the investment in training and culture," said Anthony Longo, President and Chief Executive Officer of Longo's. "Each Longo's Team Member owns an equal share in this award because of their commitment to excellence, dedication to family values and genuine care."
Longo's was founded in 1956 and currently operates 36 stores and Grocery Gateway delivery, employing more than 5,000 Team Members across Ontario. They have become a household name synonymous with family values. This year, perhaps more than any other year, Longo's recognizes the importance that culture plays into the bigger picture of operating a business.
"The past two years have brought sweeping changes to how we live, work, and lead," said Longo. "This disruption has reminded us that having a strong, positive organizational culture is a cornerstone to success and always will be."
The full list of Most Admired Corporate Cultures can be found HERE.
“We are thrilled to be recognized alongside some tremendous companies this year,” said Longo. “It is the everyday steps we take toward fueling happier healthier lives that contribute to a better, more inclusive company and world.”
Longo’s has always prioritized investing in their people and culture. They have a Good Jobs strategy aligned to the Good Jobs Institute, a non-profit 501(C)(3) start-up social enterprise, founded in 2017 that focuses on moving towards offering a living wage for all full time Team Members, including a very comprehensive benefits offering. They invested in training tools that allow teams to learn on their mobile devices daily. In addition, they launched a recognition platform that has further enhanced culture and has resulted in one of the lowest turn-over rates in the business. They are optimistic about the future and the great career opportunities within the business and industry.
Longo’s has won many accolades over the course of the past year, including the 2020 Canadian Independent Grocer of the Year Awards and #1 Grocery Store and #1 Delivery Brand in Leger WOW Study. Longo’s was also recognized as Canada’s Best Employer by Forbes in 2021, the only Grocery Retailer to gain that accolade.
About Longo's Brothers Fruit Market
Longo's is a family-operated Canadian organization that started in 1956 when three brothers, Tommy, Joe and Gus, opened their first fruit market. What began as a small family-run store has since grown to a company that operates 36 stores in communities across Toronto and the GTA, as well as Grocery Gateway, the leader in online sales of home-delivered groceries.
Today, Longo's maintains the same family-based values as they did 65 years ago, putting Family Standards at the heart of everything they do. Longo's is proud to serve their Guests the quality standard of food they believe every family deserves and to give back to the communities they operate in through the Longo's Family Charitable Foundation.
For more information, please visit Longos.com
About Waterstone Human Capital
At Waterstone Human Capital, we inspire organizations to build high-performance cultures. We're a human capital management consulting firm specializing in retained executive search, cultural measurement and assessment, and leadership training and development. We have successfully helped hundreds of entrepreneurial-minded, high-growth organizations across North America recruit, measure and train for fit. Waterstone is also the founder of Canada's Most Admired™ Corporate Cultures and Canada's Most Admired™ CEO programs. These national programs annually recognize best-in-class Canadian organizations and CEOs, for fostering cultures that enhance performance and help sustain a competitive advantage.
For more information, please visit waterstonehc.com or canadasmostadmired.com
Longo’s Media Contact: Shingirirai Mwaramba Public Relations shingi@bluedoor.agency
In response to COVID-19 and in support of area hospitals hardest hit by the pandemic, the Longo’s Family Charitable Foundation has generously donated $150,000 toward Mackenzie Health, Trillium Health Partners (THP) and William Osler Health System (Osler). A leader in philanthropy, the Longo family is committed to supporting health care in the communities where they operate. Longo’s has a long history of giving back to local charities and are especially committed to supporting frontline health care workers as they continue the fight against COVID-19.
To inspire community contributions, the Longo’s Family Charitable Foundation will match all offers received from donors up to $150,000. This matching program will ensure that we can amplify the impact of all donations made. Each hospital will allocate the matching offer up to $50,000 toward mental health supports for frontline hospital staff working at these three hospitals serving the West GTA, one of the hardest hit regions in the province.
In communities with a high concentration of COVID-19 cases, hospital staff and physicians have been under immense pressure with thousands of patients requiring testing and treatment. Throughout the pandemic, health care workers have continued to provide exemplary care, working long hours over an extended period of time.
“We are incredibly proud to be supporting these three hospitals,” says Rosanne Longo, Longo’s Spokesperson and Chair, Longo’s Family Charitable Foundation. “Nowhere have the impacts of the pandemic been felt more strongly than in health care. Our foundation is committed to investing in the people and communities that need it most and, for us, that means supporting frontline hospital workers who have worked tirelessly to keep our communities safe and healthy. We know it’s been a struggle and we are here for you.”
Mackenzie Health will use the gift to initiate a recovery resilience training program for its frontline staff, including workshops to deal with compassion fatigue and build emotional resilience. “Mackenzie Health was so proud to step up in the fight against COVID-19 when our community needed it most. In February, we initially opened the new Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital exclusively to support the province’s pandemic response, and between both our hospitals, Mackenzie Health’s frontline teams have cared for the highest proportion of COVID-19 patients in Ontario,” said Krista Finlay, President and CEO of Mackenzie Health Foundation. “But we know the pandemic has taken a toll on our staff, and we’re immensely grateful to the Longo family for this generous and much-needed support.”
At THP, this gift will support mental health and well-being for frontline workers. Caroline Riseboro, President and CEO of THP Foundation, commented, “When COVID-19 first entered our community in 2020, the Longo family stepped up and provided support to our pandemic response efforts and now they are providing additional mental health supports to the courageous hospital staff. We are beyond appreciative of this generosity and commitment to health care in our community and are thrilled to count Longo’s as a true partner and friend.”
William Osler Health System Foundation (Osler Foundation) has launched a Compassion Fund with a goal of raising $1 million to help support the most urgent wellness and respite needs of Osler’s staff, physicians and volunteers. “It has been, and continues to be, an immensely difficult year for our physicians, staff and volunteers. In addition to managing exceptional patient volumes due to COVID-19 and treating patients who are sicker than ever before, our frontline workers stepped into the role of family members to support patients — they’ve held the hands of people in their last moments when loved ones couldn’t be there,” said Ken Mayhew, President and CEO, Osler Foundation. “We are incredibly grateful to Longo’s for recognizing the mental wellness needs of our frontline workers and their commitment to supporting them in this way.”
To make a donation as part of the Longo’s Family Charitable Foundation 2X match initiative to support frontline hospital staff in your area, visit the hospital site of your choice at:
Mackenzie Health Foundation: https://www.mackenziehealth.ca/foundation
Trillium Health Partners Foundation: https://trilliumgiving.ca/
William Osler Health System Foundation: https://oslerfoundation.org
About Mackenzie Health
Mackenzie Health is a dynamic regional health care provider. Mackenzie Health includes Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital and Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital, each with a full-service emergency department, core services such as surgery, medicine and critical care along with specialized programs. Its community-based locations and services continue to provide additional support to western York Region. In March 2017, the organization received its second consecutive award of Accreditation with Exemplary Standing from Accreditation Canada for its commitment to safety and quality patient care. This is the highest rating a Canadian health care provider can receive. Guided by a vision to create a world-class health experience, Mackenzie Health has an unrelenting focus on the patient and is dedicated to patient needs now and in the future. Mackenzie Health is proud to serve western York Region, one of the fastest growing and most diverse communities in Canada with more than 550,000 residents.
About Mackenzie Health Foundation
Mackenzie Health Foundation is proud to be spearheading the?Ultimate campaign — the largest fundraising drive ever led by a community hospital in Canada. The campaign has already raised more than $200 million of its $250-million goal that has helped to build and equip the new Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital — Canada’s first smart hospital — and enhance care at Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital. Established in 1977, Mackenzie Health Foundation has raised funds for capital projects, medical equipment, advanced technology and educational opportunities at Mackenzie Health.
About Trillium Health Partners
Trillium Health Partners is the largest community-based hospital system in Ontario. Comprised of Credit Valley Hospital, Mississauga Hospital and Queensway Health Centre, Trillium Health Partners serves the growing and diverse populations of Mississauga, West Toronto and surrounding communities. Trillium Health Partners is a teaching hospital affiliated with the University of Toronto and is an associate member of the Toronto Academic Health Science Network.
About Trillium Health Foundation
Trillium Health Partners Foundation is dedicated to raising the critical funds needed to address the highest-priority needs of Trillium Health Partners, the largest community-based hospital system in Ontario
About WILLIAM OSLER HEALTH SYSTEM and FOUNDATION
William Osler Health System is a hospital system, which includes Brampton Civic Hospital, Peel Memorial Centre for Integrated Health and Wellness and Etobicoke General Hospital, and serves 1.3 million residents of Brampton, Etobicoke and surrounding communities within the Central West region. Osler’s emergency departments are among the busiest in Canada and its Mental Health and Addictions program is one of the largest in Ontario. William Osler Health System Foundation seeks to create a healthier community through giving by inspiring its communities to invest in exceptional health care close to home.
About Longo’s Family Charitable Foundation
Established in 1998, the vision of the Longo’s Family Charitable Foundation is to contribute to a world of strong, healthy families; one where children and youth are empowered to reach their full potential. This mission is inspired by the Longo’s love of family and passion for food and is achieved by investing in healthcare, development, and leadership initiatives. With a focus on emerging research in immunotherapy, mental health and providing funding to help build camp infrastructure, the Foundation helps fulfil the family purpose to bring opportunity, inspiration, and hope to people’s lives and make the world a better place.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Kate Johnny, Blue Door Agency, kate@bluedoor.agency
Longo’s Brothers Fruit Market (“Longo’s”) has become the first grocery retailer in North America to commit to offering only Fairtrade bananas in their 36 stores and through delivery on Grocery Gateway. This is made possible through a partnership with the Canadian company, Equifruit. The landmark decision sets a new standard for sustainable produce supply chains in North America. The announcement is aligned with Fairtrade Month, which takes place each May in Canada.
With this commitment, Longo’s is ensuring that the farmers and communities where its bananas are sourced are guaranteed a fair and sustainable income and that farmers get financial and technical support to lower their impact on the environment. For Longo’s, a full commitment to Fairtrade bananas comes as the latest in a long line of sustainability initiatives centred around environmental stewardship, responsible sourcing, and healthy communities, including waste diversion, use of renewable energy, and community donations.
“We aim to be the most trusted and relied upon food partner, and that includes setting sustainability precedents,” said Mike Longo, Chief Merchandising Officer at Longo’s. “We’re proud to be the first North American retailer to initiate what is becoming a global purchasing standard for bananas.”
Fairtrade aims to create more respectful trading partnerships between producers and consumers, and so Longo's has chosen to partner on this project with Equifruit, the Canadian leader in Fairtrade banana imports and marketing, to connect with their Guests on both supply and support with in-store messaging. In meeting Fairtrade's social sustainability standards, Equifruit and Longo's reinvest US$1 per standard 40lb case sold back to the communities where the bananas were produced. These funds are used for projects like clean water facilities, schools and health clinics.
“Fairtrade standards provide essential income stability to banana farmers working in an otherwise highly volatile market and empower them to invest in their communities,” said Jennie Coleman, President of Equifruit. “Fairtrade purchasing is the most pragmatic approach to ensuring these communities continue to develop and provide the world with its favourite staple fruit.”
“Produce has always been the backbone of our business, and responsible sourcing is not only incredibly important to us but is at the core of our family values,” said Mimmo Franzone, Director of Produce and Floral at Longo’s. “We are proud to be taking these important steps with Equifruit to ensure we can continue to fuel happier and healthier lives around the globe for years to come.”
Following a successful Longo’s pilot of Fairtrade-only bananas and the positive feedback from Guests, Longo’s was confident that making this exclusive offering was not only the right decision for its Guests, but for a sustainable future.
To meet International Fairtrade Standards, banana producers must provide fair wages and safe working conditions for workers, forbid child labour, minimize the use of chemicals, and properly sustain the local environment. Learn more about the impacts of Fairtrade banana production on Equifruit’s website.
Effective May 6th, all 36 locations of Longo’s and Grocery Gateway delivery will exclusively offer both conventional and organic Fairtrade bananas.
About Longo’s Brothers Fruit Market
Longo’s is a family-operated Canadian organization that started in 1956 when three brothers, Tommy, Joe and Gus opened their first fruit market. What began as a small family-run store has since grown to a company that operates 36 stores in communities across Toronto and the GTA, as well as Grocery Gateway, the leader in online sales of home-delivered groceries.
Today, Longo’s maintains the same family-based values as they did 65 years ago, putting Family Standards at the heart of everything they do. Longo’s is proud to serve their Guests the quality standard of food they believe every family deserves, and to give back to the communities they operate in through the Longo’s Family Charitable Foundation.
About Equifruit:
Equifruit is a group of diehard believers in ethical fruit sourcing. Especially when it comes to bananas. We’re righting the wrongs of banana business history by making it fair from the start, especially for farmers. Established in 2006, Equifruit is Canada’s leading Fairtrade-certified banana importer. We’re a growing produce aisle sweetheart with current distribution in Quebec and Ontario. Stay tuned for our worldwide Fairtrade banana domination – starting with North America.
Longo’s Media Contact:
Kate Johnny, Public Relations, kate@bluedoor.agency
Equifruit Media Contact:
Kim Chackal, Director of Sales & Marketing, Equifruitkim.chackal@equifruit.com, 514.993.7736
Longo’s Brothers Fruit Market (“Longo’s”) is proud to announce that it has been recognized as the #1 Grocery Retailer in the 2020 Ontario Leger WOW study.
Leger is the largest Canadian-owned, market research and analytics company behind the WOW Study. This year, it successfully surveyed more than 13,000 Ontarians across the province to find out how they rate their in-store customer experience. Each retailer was scored on 16 dimensions, including product offerings, pricing, service quality, store experience, personalization, and other factors including curb appeal and proximity.
The study revealed that customers consistently provided high rankings for Longo’s ambiance, product quality, check-out efficiency, curb appeal, customer importance and staff courtesy. Customers surveyed reported feeling Longo’s stores are inviting and comfortable, and that they always trust they will find good quality products, including produce, meats and prepared meals. They also reported positive experiences with staff and check-out times, fostering feelings of recognition and importance with each store visit.
“We are certainly humbled by the recognition, especially because this is feedback directly from customers,” said Anthony Longo, President and CEO at Longo’s. “Three years ago, when our annual rating in the survey dropped, we challenged ourselves to reimagine our business. We clarified our purpose, aligning with our “treating you like family” values. We redesigned our stores; we reimaged the strategy and design of our private brands portfolio and embraced the role of digital solutions and content across the shopping journey. Most of all, we put our Guests at the centre of our decision making. And through it all, we led with our values and entrepreneurial spirit.”
In addition to the broader categories of satisfaction, Longo’s was recognized by customers for their approach to health and safety measures implemented during the pandemic. At a time when it matters most, more than two thirds of Longo’s customers reported feeling able to shop freely without being afraid to touch items in the store.
“We know everyone is feeling the pressures of the pandemic, and Longo’s wants to ensure we provide an experience that feels both welcoming and safe for our Team Members and Guests,” said Anthony Longo. “We make every effort to ensure each visit to our stores for essential needs can be as pleasant as possible during these times and always.”
"Longo’s great performance on some of the key pillars of the WOW Index helped propel them to the #1 spot in their category, well ahead of competitors,” said Luc Dumont, Vice-President, CPG, Leger. “Thanks to their efficiency at checkout, the competency of their staff, and their layout changes in response to the recent dynamics in the grocery space, Longo’s has become the reference in their category for providing a great customer experience.”
Overall, 145 retailers belonging to 20 sectors were analyzed in the WOW Study. Each grocery retailer was assessed by an average of 400 respondents who visited one of this retailer’s stores in the past month. Data collection took place from October 18 to November 23, 2020.
“We truly appreciate the work of Leger in collecting and compiling this data each year,” said Anthony Longo. “The WOW Study provides us with a unique insider glimpse into our Guests’ perceptions of our performance, and we will use this information to continually serve our Guests better in the future. Getting back to #1, rated by customers, is an important milestone on our journey. Thank you to each Team Member that helped make this possible. Treating people like family is who we are, and I am proud to see those values appreciated. And thank you to our Guests for continuing to see us as your trusted and relied upon food partner. More to come!”
About Longo’s Brothers Fruit Market
Longo’s is a family-owned Canadian organization that started in 1956 when three brothers, Tommy, Joe and Gus opened their first fruit market. What began as a small family-run store has since grown to a company that operates 36 stores in communities across Toronto and the GTA, as well as Grocery Gateway, the leader in online sales of home-delivered groceries.
Today, Longo’s maintains the same family-based values as they did over 60 years ago, putting Family Standards at the heart of everything they do. Longo’s is proud to serve their Guests the quality standard of food we believe every family deserves, and to give back to the communities we operate in through the Longo’s Family Charitable Foundation.
Media Contact:
Kate Johnny, Public Relations, kate@bluedoor.agency
2020
Longo Brothers Fruit Markets (“Longo’s”) and the Longo’s Family Charitable Foundation (“LFCF”) announced a breakthrough donation today of $2.5 million to The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation (“The PMCF”). This donation marks the largest single philanthropic gift made by the Longo family.
The LFCF was established in 1998 with a vision to build happier and healthier communities; one where children and youth are empowered to reach their full potential. This is accomplished through strategic investments and partnerships in healthcare, with a focus on emerging research in the areas of mental health and immunotherapy, as well as initiatives emphasized on leadership and development of children and youth of all abilities.
The legacy donation will be distributed between two major areas of impact for The PMCF; the Tumour Immunotherapy Program and the Space Transformation Campaign, supported through direct philanthropy, and the ongoing sponsorship of Scotiabank Road Hockey to Conquer Cancer.
The donation complements Longo’s corporate areas of focus, which include disease prevention and education, child and youth leadership initiatives, and nutrition and food aid programs. Throughout the last five years, Longo’s corporate giving, combined with the LFCF’s philanthropy has resulted in more than $10.5M in investments in healthcare, kids’ camps, as well as child and youth leadership and development initiatives, impacting the lives of thousands of families.
“It is a core pillar of Longo’s to continually support organizations leading the way in disease prevention, but particularly now, we know that cancer doesn't stop being a life-changing and life-threatening disease in the middle of a pandemic,” said Anthony Longo, President and CEO of Longo’s. “Princess Margaret Cancer Centre conducts life-changing research that impacts families in our communities every day, and we are humbled knowing the impact this donation will have on families locally as well as around the world.”
Longo’s donation to the Tumour Immunotherapy Program will directly support the program's research and its scientists, who are helping to prolong and save lives through their ground-breaking initiatives. Through the program and the creation of targeted immunotherapy drugs, those suffering from metastatic melanoma have increased their survival rate from 20% in 2008 to 60% in 2018.
As part of the donation, the new Longo’s Family Lounge in the Blood Lab will be part of the Space Transformation Campaign and will provide comfort and privacy to the nearly 2,000 patients who visit the lab each week.
“We are extraordinarily grateful to Longo’s and LFCF for their founding partnership on Scotiabank Road Hockey to Conquer Cancer and their ongoing philanthropic support. The gift to our Space Transformation project will benefit every patient who receives care at The Princess Margaret, and their investment in immunotherapy research will help sustain The Princess Margaret as one of the top five cancer research centres in the world,” said Michael Burns, President and CEO of The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation.
As a founding sponsor since 2011, Longo’s is proud to carry on its commitment of fuelling players and volunteers as a Presenting Sponsor of the Scotiabank Road Hockey to Conquer Cancer for the next five years. To date, the event has successfully raised more than $23M to enable Future Care Now at The Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. These funds accelerate cancer research, education, and clinical care, which benefits patients at The Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, across Canada and around the world.
“The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation played a critical role in my father, Tommy Longo’s, fight against leukemia and we are forever grateful to the care and support their team offered us during that time,” said Longo. “1 in 2 Canadians are expected to be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime, and we hope that this donation will help fund research that will someday eradicate this terrible disease. As a leader in cancer research, we know that this donation is in the right hands.”
About Longo’s Family Charitable Foundation
Since 1956, Longo’s has been dedicated to building happier and healthier communities. The Longo’s Family Charitable Foundation helps make this a reality by focusing on strategic philanthropy in the areas of healthcare and initiatives focused on leadership and development of children and youth of all abilities. This complements Longo’s corporate focus areas of disease prevention and education, child and youth leadership initiatives and nutrition and food aid programs. Longo’s yearly in-store programs include the bi-annual Neighbour in Need program supporting local food banks, Scotiabank Road Hockey to Conquer Cancer and Toonies for Tummies school breakfast programs. www.longos.com/in-the-community/
About Longo Brothers Fruit Markets
Longo’s is a family-owned Canadian organization that started in 1956 when three brothers, Tommy, Joe and Gus opened their first fruit market. What began as a small family-run store has since grown to a company that operates 37 stores in communities across Toronto and the GTA, as well as Grocery Gateway, the leader in online sales of home-delivered groceries. Today, Longo’s maintains the same family-based values as they did over 60 years ago, putting Family Standards at the heart of everything they do. Longo’s is proud to serve their guests the quality standard of food we believe every family deserves, and to give back to the communities we operate in through the Longo’s Family Charitable Foundation. www.longos.com
About The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation
The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation (The PMCF) is one of the world’s leading cancer charities. Its mission is to enable future care now by raising funds that accelerate cancer research, education, and clinical care benefitting patients at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, across Canada and around the world. www.thepmcf.ca
About Princess Margaret Cancer Centre
Princess Margaret Cancer Centre is one of the top 5 cancer research centres in the world and is a member of the University Health Network, which also includes Toronto General and Toronto Western Hospitals, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute and The Michener Institute for Education at UHN. University Health Network is a research hospital affiliated with the University of Toronto. www.theprincessmargaret.ca
For More Information:
Longo’s Media Contact:
Delia Loveless, Public Relations, delia@bluedoor.agency
The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation Contact:
Ceilidh McMeekin, Public Relations, cmcmeekin@thinkagnostic.com
Longo’s Brothers Fruit Market (“Longo’s”) announced today the relaunch of its Neighbour in Need program, which seeks to combat food insecurity in Ontario by providing essential items to local food banks.
First established by Longo’s in 2009, the Neighbour in Need program is a bi-annual fundraising event that encourages guests to purchase pre-assembled bags of essential items. These items are then donated to local non-profits and food banks, including Second Harvest and Churches on-the-Hill Foodbank.
Each bag is filled with much-needed items, including shelf-stable vegetables and grains. Each bag can provide up to nine meals.
“We are incredibly proud of this wonderful program that helps address food insecurity head-on,” said Rosanne Longo, Spokesperson & Chair, Longo's Family Charitable Foundation. “Thanks to all of our guests who donate each year, our Neighbour in Need program has supplied over 170,000 bags of food to local food banks and provided healthy meals to more than one million people across Ontario. This year, the Longo’s Family Charitable Foundation has pledged to match donations up to $100,000 and has set a goal of donating 250,000 meals to Ontario food banks.”
Longo’s is aligning its relaunch with Giving Tuesday, which takes place May 5th this year and is a day marked by global giving and unity.
“The impacts of COVID-19 have been felt drastically by everyone, but no one is harder hit than the most vulnerable members of our communities,” said Rosanne Longo. “We are seeing more people turn to the food banks as food insecurity rises in every corner of the planet. As an essential service that has been fortunate to continue operations, Longo’s wants to ensure that we are investing in the people and communities that surround us.”
In 2019, more than 500,000 people sought support from local food banks in Ontario. A staggering 33% of those were children.
Guests will be encouraged to donate a $5.99 or $11.99 bag at the checkout at any of the 37 Longo’s locations. They will also have the option to add a donation to their online order through Longo’s grocery delivery arm, Grocery Gateway.
“We are very grateful to the Longo’s Family Charitable Foundation for their Neighbour in Need program which provides healthy pantry staples and meal starters like pasta, legumes, tuna, and canned tomatoes. These are always useful for any kitchen, but in these uncertain times, our food program partners benefit from having healthy food that can be used right away or banked for future needs. We are also grateful to Longo’s generous customers for purchasing and donating these bags – on behalf of your neighbours in need, thank you,” said Lori Nikkel, CEO of Second Harvest.
The Neighbour in Need program will run until May 10, at which time donations will be assembled and donated directly to food banks throughout May.
“We want to thank everyone who donates each year to this important cause,” said Rosanne Longo. “We firmly believe it’s the collaborative and sustained efforts of many individuals over time that will ultimately help us combat hunger and achieve food security for our future.”
About Longo’s Brothers Fruit Market
Longo’s is a family-owned Canadian organization that started in 1956 when three brothers, Tommy, Joe and Gus opened their first fruit market. What began as a small family-run store has since grown to a company that operates 37 stores in communities across Toronto and the GTA, as well as Grocery Gateway, the leader in online sales of home-delivered groceries.
Today, Longo’s maintains the same family-based values as they did over 60 years ago, putting Family Standards at the heart of everything they do. Longo’s is proud to serve their guests the quality standard of food we believe every family deserves, and to give back to the communities we operate in through the Longo’s Family Charitable Foundation.
Media Contact:
Delia Loveless, Public Relations, delia@bluedoor.agency
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