2024-01-04 01:33:58
Lac-Saint-Jean loses practically its only zero waste grocery store since the company Le Lac en Vrac located in Alma is forced to close shop. This is the second grocery store of its kind to close in the region in just 5 months.
The zero waste grocery store Le Lac en Vrac is more popular than ever due to its closing sale. Around fifty customers looking for deals were present in the store on Wednesday morning.
“There are really a lot of people. I left this morning saying to my partner: “I hope I will have people”. But here, it’s more than expected, it’s crazy,” noted the owner, Julie Maltais, who gave heart to the work at the checkout.
She was accompanied by a single employee to help her respond to customers who were so numerous that relatives came to help.
“It would have been nice to have people there all year round, but anyway, that’s how it is. Maybe people are not yet ready for zero waste. It’s certain that the pandemic played a big role in the balance too,” underlined Gisèle Gagnon, who has worked at Lac en Vrac for two years.
Customers have become rarer since the end of the pandemic. This is also one of the main reasons pushing the company to end its activities.
“At some point you have to make a choice. I am tired. It’s been two and a half years since I paid myself any salary. December wasn’t good, we got kicked out. So everything came together in December to say: ‘OK, that’s enough,’” said the owner.
The business received an eviction notice last December. The city of Alma will take possession of the building in question as of June 30. The company therefore had to find another premises to continue its operations in addition to having to repay the emergency loan granted to Canadian businesses during the pandemic.
“Again, it was costs. It was impossible to find the right premises or find premises. There aren’t that many free premises in Alma. So for visibility, it was more difficult too,” added Ms. Gagnon.
Difficult for bulk businesses
This is the second zero waste grocery store in the region to have to close its doors in just five months. On September 10, the La Réserve de Jonquière grocery store had to cease its activities for almost the same reasons.
“Few people are aware of buying ecological products in bulk, local products. This is what Julie offered us. I find it a pity. We have developed good consumption habits and it will be hard to maintain them without buying in bulk and local,” lamented a customer.
“We’re going to go back to the grocery store with a lot of packaging. I think there aren’t many people who are aware that if it closes, there aren’t really any others like it who will open,” said another regular customer.
Despite the unexpected traffic due to the closing sale, the company has indicated that it will still close its doors at the end of the week.
“Even during the holiday season, traffic was not there. So there’s no point in continuing for another six months. We also have to pay supplier invoices,” explained Gisèle Gagnon.
All merchandise, including furniture, must be liquidated by next Sunday.
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