HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2016-03-23, Page 15..."\ A\
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Londesborough
United Church T
Emily Colclough
was the youngest
entertainer at
the Brucefield St.
Patrick's Day party.
Wednesday, March 23, 2016 • Huron Expositor 15
St. Patrick's Day party at Brucefield Community United Church
Rev. Randy Banks shares a comical Irish song.
French's 'humbled' by Canadians'
support as Loblaws flips on ketchup
Antonella Artuso
Postmedia Network
French's is scrambling to
fill Loblaws shelves with its
ketchup after the Canadian
grocer reversed its decision
to halt sales.
Elliott Penner, president
of French's, said the com-
pany has been "over-
whelmed" by the support
Canadians have shown for
its ketchup, which is made
with Ontario -grown toma-
toes and Ontario -manu-
factured tomato paste.
"We're really humbled
by it," Penner said Tues-
day. "We just have never
seen anything like this."
The company's biggest
problem right now is
meeting an immediate
400% increase in demand,
but that should be
resolved within 60 to 90
days, he said.
Folks on social media
and provincial politicians
have been urging Ontari-
ans to buy French's
ketchup to help preserve
jobs in Leamington.
Anecdotal evidence
pointed to the growing
success of the strategy,
but Loblaws announced
this week it was pulling
the product off its shelves
because of poor sales.
The decision sparked
outrage and Loblaws
reversed its decision within
24 hours.
"We've heard our
Loblaws customers. We
will restock French's
ketchup and hope that the
enthusiasm we are seeing
in the media and on social
media translates into sales
of the product," Kevin
Groh, vice-president of
corporate affairs and com-
munication, said in a state-
ment Tuesday afternoon.
"We will work with
French's to make sure we
are in -stock as soon as
possible."
Liberal MPP Mike Colle,
who sent a letter to
Loblaws early Tuesday
threatening to boycott the
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company, laughed when
the Sun told him of the
grocery giant's change of
heart just two hours later.
"MPPs really do make a
difference — I can't believe
it," Colle said. "It really
struck home, this thing ...
what are they doing?"
The community of Leam-
ington was devastated when
ketchup -maker Heinz shut
down its operations there in
2014, leaving hundreds of
people without jobs.
French's, better known
for its mustards, began
buying Leamington toma-
toes for its own ketchup
brand.
NDP MPP Taras
SONGFEST
2016
Sunday, April 3 - 7 pm
Featured performers:
The Honey Sweethearts
The Glister Children's Choir
Country Serenade
Shelley McPhee-Haist and
Elizabeth Haist
Tom Pollard
Admission: $10
Refreshments to Follow`
Natyshak, who represents
the riding of Essex,
launched a petition to "Put
Leamington Ketchup On
The Table at Queen's Park."
Although it only means
French's is now promi-
nently on display in the
Queen's Park cafeteria, Nat-
yshak said he's trying to
focus attention on local
food and provincial
procurement.
"Why not expand that in
the legislature, but also to
the broader public sector,"
he said. "I'm hearing that
hospitals and universities,
at least in Windsor, are
already making the switch
to French's ketchup."
i
Rev. Randy Banks and his family enjoying the St. Paddy's
Day Potluck at Brucefield Community United Church
•i
•PARK THEATRE „s �,.�.: _I■4,
SOD ERICN 519 5S4 7511
FOR MOVIE INFORMATION...
AP
www.mowieliriks.ca -,,d r„LL l430O-X5.3438
SEAFORTH OPTIMIST SILVERCREEK
PL DUCK RACES
SATURDAY, MAY 14 — RACE TIME 1 P.M.
Seaforth Lions Park
Tickets available from Optimist Club Members, Blooms 'n Rooms & Sally's Closet
Tickets still available for
2016 Travel the World draw
*First draw April 4
Tickets available from Optimist Club Members,
Blooms 'n Rooms & Sally's Closet
Saturday March 26, 2016 9-11 ant -11
Pancake
Breakfast
Served by the
ex-Centenaires
9am-11 am
Ba„a's
ba�eatur�grd
A
guhicks
an°'More eaPigs
Brought to you by the Seaforth
All events take
place at the
Seaforth
and District
Community Centre.
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