Great Things in Store: A Retail-Based Project

Great Things in Store is a multi-year project focused on partnering with local retailers to improve food access and affordability in their communities.

Phase Two (2026 - 2029)

Starting June 1, 2026, Food First NL will be accepting applications from retailers for Phase Two of this project. Up to 16 retailers will be selected to pursue pilot programs which improve food access. Check out our Phase One retailers below for inspiration!

Applications close July 31, 2026.

Benefits of participation include:

Hands-on support from Food First NL staff from planning through to implementation
The opportunity to co-design a food retail pilot project alongside Food First NL and members of your community
Funding to launch your retail food project
Mentorship from leaders in the public, private, and community sectors, as well as feedback from people with lived experience of food insecurity
Stronger ties to and knowledge of your community and its needs
Promotion of your project through our social media platforms, with potential local media coverage

Apply Online Now!

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Fillable PDF (fill and email)
Printable PDF (fill by hand and letter mail)

For additional information or application support, please reach out to Program Coordinator Alison at gtis@foodfirstnl.ca.

Why Retail Partnerships?

Small food retailers across the province are a core part of how people access food. Convenience stores, small grocery stores, farm stands, and gas stations all play a role in our food system. Small retailers also care about their communities. They know their customers, their community members, and their neighbours. When we work to improve food access, we need to include retailers in that work.

Newfoundland and Labrador faces a number of challenges to food security, including our long and complex supply chain. Combine that with rising food insecurity due to low incomes and the availability of nutritious food in rural communities, and you start to see the cracks more clearly. Data has shown that only increasing incomes will fix this issue, but making food more affordable and easier to physically access will go a long way to help.

Together, we can work toward a Newfoundland and Labrador where everyone has economic and physical access to adequate amounts of nutritious, safe, and culturally appropriate food.

Phase One (2022 - 2024)

Between 2022 and 2024, Food First NL partnered with food retailers and communities across the province. Our goal was to explore retail options that improve food access for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. Together, we met with community members and asked them what retailers could do to make a difference.

Our Phase One Retail Partners

We co-created six pilot projects based on what we heard from community members. These projects included delivery services, offering smaller portion sizes, food distribution, ready-to-eat meals, and more.

We worked with: