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One Toronto Company Has Successfully Grown Its Business During COVID-19 One Toronto Company Has Successfully Grown Its Business During COVID-19

By Julianna D'Urzo

Bondi Produce Truck
© 2020 Julianna DUrzo

[Ezio]
(“COVID happens, we have all this produce in our warehouse that is you know, basically dying, we have a bunch of trucks that are parked, and I think during, you know times like these, as a business owner, you’re forced to innovate..”)

(Reporter)
(IMMIGRATING TO CANADA FROM ITALY, IGNAZIO BONDI LAUNCHED “BONDI PRODUCE” IN 1976.
THE BUSINESS SELLS PRODUCE TO TORONTO’S TOP RESTURANTS.
THREE GENERATIONS LATER, BONDI IS PIVOTING THEIR BUSINESS MODEL SAYS VICE PRESIDENT, EZIO BONDI.)

[Ezio]
(“We have the trucks, we have the product, why not just deliver to houses we thought.”)

(Reporter)
FROM CLOSED BUSINESSES DOORS TO FRONT DOOR HOME DELIVERY,
THE COMPANY ALSO EXPANDED IT’S PRODUCTS.

[Ezio]
(“Before this, we were just selling fruits and vegetables, and now with home delivery we are offering multiple categories. Dairy, Meat, Bakery and Pantry Items as well.”)

(Reporter)
IMPORTANT TO BONDI WAS TO NOT FORGET ABOUT IT’S PRIOR CLIENTS, TORONTO RESTAURANTS.

[Ezio]
(“We sell them a product, they turn it into a finished good, sell it back to us, and then we sell that directly to the consumer.”)

(Reporter)
A NEW CUSTOMER, IMPRESSED WITH THE COMPANY’S CHANGES IS MARIA MULTARI.
A FOOD AND NUTRITION HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER, FRESH PRODUCE WAS A PRIORITY.

[Maria Multari]
(“I saw it on Instagram, and it looked really good, so I had already tried two other home delivery services and I wasn’t happy with them, so I thought let’s try this one and so I did and now I order every week.”)

(Reporter)
MULTARI HAS NOW BECOME A REGULAR, BUT NOT JUST BECAUSE OF THE PRODUCE.

[Maria]
(“I like the way it is packaged, everything is eco-friendly, cardboard boxes, the bags are bio-degradable, those are all pluses. The service is great.”

(Reporter)
ONE OF MULTARI’S FAVOURITE PRODUCTS COMES FROM AN OUTSIDE RETAILER.

[Maria]
(“Their olive oil is probably one of the best I have ever had and it’s such a good price point.)

(JULIANNA)
As for the future, of Bondi Produce they may have just found themselves a new business opportunity.

TORONTO (NCC News) — Bondi Produce has pivoted its business model gaining them new customers during the pandemic. A local family-run business in Toronto, the company supplies produce to Toronto’s top restaurants.

Many businesses have been forced to close or switch to a take-out only option which left Bondi Produce in a predicament.

“COVID happens, we have all this produce in our warehouse that is you know, basically dying, we have a bunch of trucks that are parked, and I think during, you know times like these, as a business owner, you’re forced to innovate,” said Ezio Bondi, the company’s vice president.

The company’s creativity didn’t stop there. Additional products were added to the company’s online store as well.

“Before this, we were just selling fruits and vegetables, and now with home delivery we are offering multiple categories. Dairy, meat, bakery and pantry Items as well,” Bondi said.

Door front grocery delivery from Bondi Produce.
Door front grocery delivery from Bondi Produce.
© 2020 Julianna D

Even though restaurants were generating a lot less business, it was important for Bondi not to neglect them. That led Bondi to creating an “Etsy like” online shop for food as Bondi describes it.

“We sell them a product, they turn it into a finished good, sell it back to us, and then we sell that directly to the consumer,” Bondi said.

The future for Bondi Produce looks bright with as they may have found a new business venture.

Reported by

Julianna D'Urzo

Julianna D'Urzo is a student reporter from the Newhouse School of Public Communications. D'Urzo is currently working towards her masters in broadcast digital journalism. A Toronto native, she has studied in Canada, Italy, France and the United States. In the past D'Urzo has worked with companies such as Bell Media, Bumble, Variety Magazine and ICM Partners. Her travels have brought her to The Cannes Film Festival and The Cannes Lions Festival.

Other stories by Julianna D'Urzo

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