Longo's

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Longo Brothers Fruit Markets Inc.
Longo's
TypePrivate
IndustryRetail supermarket
Founded1956 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
FounderTommy, Joe and Gus Longo
Headquarters
Vaughan, Ontario
,
Canada
Number of locations
36
Area served
Southern Ontario
ProductsBakery, dairy, delicatessen, frozen foods, general grocery, meat and poultry, produce, seafood, snacks, pharmacy (at six locations), flowers, Starbucks
OwnerEmpire Company (51%)
Longo family (49%)
Number of employees
5,000+
Websitehttp://www.longos.com/

Longo's is a chain of retail supermarkets and grocery delivery service serving Southern Ontario, Canada, controlled by Sobeys parent Empire Company in partnership with the founding Longo family. Its corporate office is located in Vaughan and operates locations mainly in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area.

History[]

Longo's was founded in 1956 by Italian immigrant brothers Joe, Tommy, and Gus Longo,[1][2] who immigrated to Canada in 1951 from Termini Imerese, Sicily.[3] They established their first store at the intersection of Yonge Street and Castlefield Avenue in Toronto, with the name "Broadway Fruit Market".[4] This store was about 139 square metres (1,500 sq ft), and had eight family members working there.[4][5] In 1962, the Longo brothers opened their second store in 1962, on Woodbine Avenue, with name "Longo's Fruit Markets".[4] The third store opened in 1982 at Dundas St. and Trafalgar Rd. in Oakville, as increased expansion continued.[4] In 1998, Tommy's son Anthony became the president of Longo's.[6]

Eldest brother Tommy Longo stocking shelves at their storefront c.1960s

Longo's publishes a free magazine called Experience Magazine. In 2004, Longo's acquired the online grocery retailer Grocery Gateway.[7]

Longo's owns and operates 36 stores, most in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, including several smaller-format "The Market by Longo's" stores in downtown and midtown Toronto. A 4,500-square-metre (48,000 sq ft) flagship store opened in Maple Leaf Square in downtown Toronto. In September 2016, the chain's southwesternmost location opened in Ancaster, making it the first in Hamilton.[8]

Longo's employs more than 5,000 people,[6] and for nine consecutive years was one of Canada's Top 50 privately managed companies by the Financial Post newspaper (2000-2008), achieving platinum status.[9]

Joe Longo Sr. died on September 15, 2008, at the age of 70.[3] Tommy Longo died on January 30, 2011, at the age of 76.[10]

On March 16, 2021, it was announced that Empire Company, parent company of Sobeys, will buy a 51% stake in Longo's and its Grocery Gateway e-commerce business (which was acquired by Longo's in 2004)[11] for $357 million.[12] The deal, which closed in May 2021, includes a clause allowing Sobeys' share to increase in future years.[13][14] The Longo's stores and Grocery Gateway "will continue to be led by CEO Anthony Longo".[15] The plan was subject to review by the Competition Bureau.[16]

In September 2021, the Grocery Gateway delivery service was folded under the Longo's banner, with the transitional name "Longo's delivered by Grocery Gateway".[17] The Longo's delivery operation continues as a standalone business, but may collaborate with Sobeys' own Voilà delivery brand.[14]

Locations[]

Longo's First Canadian Place store.
Longo's in Markham
Longo's in Richmond Hill
Longo's in Vaughan

36 locations:[18]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Longo's to open cashless, convenience grocery focused on prepared meals and snacks – Produce Blue Book". Retrieved 2020-07-24.
  2. ^ "Tommy Longo listened to his father and co-founded a grocery empire". Retrieved 2020-07-24.
  3. ^ a b "Joe Longo: A life of food and family - The Star".
  4. ^ a b c d "Family History". Longo Brothers Fruit Markets Inc. Archived from the original on 22 October 2006. Retrieved 23 December 2009.
  5. ^ "Gus Longo looks back on 60 years in groceries". thestar.com. May 19, 2015.
  6. ^ a b "Our History". Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  7. ^ "Longo's bets big on online grocery shopping". thestar.com. November 30, 2016.
  8. ^ "Longo's opening new grocery store in Ancaster". The Hamilton Spectator. 8 July 2016.
  9. ^ "Platinum Club members". Deloitte & Touche LLP, CIBC, National Post, and Queen's School of Business. Archived from the original on 13 December 2014. Retrieved 23 December 2009.
  10. ^ "Tommy Longo listened to his father and co-founded a grocery empire" – via The Globe and Mail.
  11. ^ "Sobeys' parent buying control of Longo's, Grocery Gateway". The Globe and Mail. 2014-08-25. Retrieved 2021-03-16.
  12. ^ "Sobeys parent company to buy 51% stake in Longo's, Grocery Gateway". cbc.ca. March 16, 2021.
  13. ^ "Sobeys' parent buys 51% stake in Longo's for $357 million". Global News. March 16, 2021.
  14. ^ a b Redman, Russell (May 13, 2021). "Empire closes Longo's acquisition, sets new FreshCo locations". Supermarket News. Retrieved September 16, 2021.
  15. ^ "Sobeys parent Empire agrees to buy majority stake in Longo's for $357M". thestar.com. 2021-03-16. Retrieved 2021-03-16.
  16. ^ "Sobeys' parent buying control of Longo's, Grocery Gateway". Bloomberg. 2021-03-16. Retrieved 2021-03-16.
  17. ^ "Frequently Asked Questions". Longos.com. Retrieved September 16, 2021.
  18. ^ "Find a store". longos.com.
  19. ^ "The Market by Longo's". Longos.com. Retrieved September 16, 2021.

External links[]

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