Farm Boy

Farm Boy is a Canadian fresh-market grocery retailer whose first store opened in Cornwall, Ontario, in 1981. According to the company’s account, Jean-Louis and Colette Bellemare began with a 300-square-foot produce shop on Cumberland Street, aiming to offer the local community fresh produce at good value. Produce remains central to the business: the retailer says its buyers select fruit and vegetables at local markets and that it seeks to source from nearby farms where possible. The company describes its stores as offering a fresh-market shopping experience built around produce, curated products, value, local sourcing and welcoming customer service. Its assortment extends beyond fruit and vegetables to include butcher-quality meats, seafood, cheese and deli selections, baked goods, grocery items, and chef-prepared dishes made by the retailer. Farm Boy also sells a broad range of products under its own brand, alongside selected products it curates for customers. Examples shown on its website include soups, snacks, crackers, frozen seafood, appetizers and prepared foods. Farm Boy primarily operates in Ontario. Its website presents weekly specials, recipes and product information, connecting the store offer with cooking inspiration and seasonal food discovery. Company news identifies store growth in Ontario communities including Ottawa and Collingwood; the company’s history page describes a network of more than 53 fresh-market stores. Farm Boy is part of Empire Company Limited, a Canadian food-retail group. The company’s stated emphasis is on freshness, quality, value and local relationships, rather than a narrowly defined grocery assortment.

Farm Boy traces its origins to a small produce shop in Cornwall, Ontario. The company says Jean-Louis and Colette Bellemare opened the first store in 1981 on Cumberland Street. At 300 square feet, it began with a focused purpose: to bring the surrounding community fresh produce at excellent value. That origin continues to inform how the retailer describes itself, with fresh produce presented as the heart of the business. As the business developed, Farm Boy expanded beyond its original produce-store format. Its current company history describes stores offering butcher-quality meats, sustainably sourced seafood, artisanal cheese and deli selections, fresh baked goods, and convenient chef-prepared dishes. It also emphasizes a selection of curated products and in-house-made foods. The company says its buyers visit local markets to hand-select fruit and vegetables and that it strives to source from local farms whenever possible. These practices support its stated focus on freshness, quality, value and ties to local suppliers. Farm Boy’s own-brand range has become another part of its retail offer. Its product catalogue describes private-label products as bringing together quality and value, and displays a diverse selection of packaged grocery, snack and prepared-food items. The retailer’s online presence also features weekly flyers, product information and recipes, extending its food-focused offer beyond the store shelves. The company describes its growth as a move from one modest Cornwall shop to a network of more than 53 fresh-market stores across Ontario. Its company-news page records continued expansion, including announcements for locations in Collingwood and Ottawa’s Findlay Creek neighbourhood in 2026. The company has also used customer-oriented promotions such as its annual Fan Faves campaign, which asks customers to vote for favourite products, and community initiatives such as the Feed The Dream grant program announced in 2026. Farm Boy is part of Empire Company Limited. Through its history and current retail presentation, the brand has maintained an identity centred on fresh-market grocery shopping, selected products, local sourcing and value. Its present-day assortment spans fresh foods, grocery staples, private-label items and prepared dishes, while its store-growth and promotional announcements show an ongoing effort to serve communities across Ontario.

• 2026

  Farm Boy announced a new Collingwood location as part of its Ontario expansion.

• 2026

  Farm Boy announced its planned Findlay Creek location in Ottawa, described in the release as its 53rd store.

• 1981

  Jean-Louis and Colette Bellemare opened Farm Boy’s first store, a 300-square-foot produce shop on Cumberland Street in Cornwall, Ontario.

A fresh-market grocery retailer emphasizing carefully selected produce, quality, value, local sourcing, curated products and friendly service.

• Farm Boy private-label products

  The retailer’s own-brand range includes grocery, snack, packaged-food and prepared-food products.

• Farm Boy Butternut Squash Canned Soup

  A canned soup product featured on the Farm Boy homepage.

• Farm Boy Frozen Raw Peeled Deveined Shrimp

  A Farm Boy-branded frozen shrimp product featured on the homepage.

• Farm Boy Shrimp Appetizer Party Pack

  A Farm Boy-branded appetizer product featured on the homepage.

1. 1Shop at the freshest grocery store.farmboy.ca
2. 2Our Humble Beginnings - About Us | Farm Boyfarmboy.ca
3. 3Discover Our Products | Farm Boyfarmboy.ca
4. 4Our Latest Company News & Press Releases | Farm Boyfarmboy.ca
5. 5Farm Boy opens its biggest store in Ottawactvnews.ca