As a Canadian this is really funny to see. I feel like we are always the ones waiting for American chains to come up here, so it’s cool to see something from Canada come to the US and for so many Americans to enjoy it.
probably because it's easier for chains here to gain enough money to feel safe branching into a market using a different currency... way i understand things is most canadian businesses don't feel financially secure in attempting a market breakthrough in usa.
@ yup! Makes sense, even the current situation aside you guys just have a much larger and robust economy than we do. Hopefully things get better for all of us soon, regardless!
I'm a little confused, don't they have any big Asian grocery chains in the US? Why does it look like something new to them? We have so many Asian grocery stores just here in Montreal. I went to check out the new T&T that opened in the city and I was not that impressed compared to the other ones I go to usually. Their prices are way higher so I'm not really getting any savings going there. I think their biggest selling point is the (pricey) bakery section but since I'm not much of a dessert person, I'll stick to my regular cheaper Asian groceries like C&T, Lian Tai and Kim Phat.
T&T was started decades ago in Canada by a Taiwanese Mom who had trouble finding Asian ingredients here in Canada. It expanded all across Canada. They had regular customers crossing the border from the American west coast and decided to expand to the U.S. - a very big gamble for any Canadian company and I don't think they sell Korean skincare here. Clearly they did their research because I see a lot of products that are unique to this American location like Dungeness crab. Their ready made hot section is great and the stores are clean. Hmart is more Korean focused, but T&T is more Chinese focused. I am blessed because I live in Toronto where we are spoiled with great Asian restaurants and supermarkets, so I am excited for these customers. FYI the company is now lead by the daughter of the founder and she has a clear vision for their business and customers. FYI: I am fully aware that Loblaws bought majority shareholdership years ago. Her daughter Tina Lee still runs the business and is CEO.
Dungeness crab is a local product in the West Coast - so you'll find it in all of the T&T in the Lower Mainland. Surprised they don't ship that to TO. We have Korean and Japanese skincare here as well
The TNT in Canada are much better run than the one in Bellevue. I was disappointed to spend the whole few hours and came out with only a pack of Korean grapes. The seafood selections are much much lower class, vegetables are not as fresh as those from Chinatown . Meat selections are less than pleasing than butcher shops . The cooked food are horrible. I was looking forward but sorry it’s sooo disappointing.
Filipino-Canadian here. I grew up on T&T since there wasn't a lot of competition at the time. Now there's Lucky supermarket. But also, Seafood City with more Filipino goods. These days, I rarely go to T&T. But I'm glad they've expanded and giving shoppers more variety!
@@leeyuguang4424 yep, don’t waste your time if it is a long drive. The vegetables are beaten up and not even fresh. The seafoods on the ice are olden than me. The meat is less than pleasing. I think there is a big gap in expectations….. the problem is that tnt brand sounded premium , but the reality is that it is worst than Ranch 99 or Asian Family supermarket, or even Viet Wah. You can visit the bakery and you would be horrified at the pastries on display. There will be another one opening up in Lynwood area, I won’t even bother to go.
T&T is the most successful Asian/Chinese groceries store all over Canada. Love the place. Very well managed, clean, and offered amazing selection of Asian stuff (including Korean, Japanese, Filipino, etc). Most stores also have great hot food/deli selections with ready to go meals like Dim Sum, Chinese BBQ, soup noodles and self-serve hot dishes (by weight). My favorite is the breakfast selection like the sticky rice wraps (so good and fresh) and Chinese crepes. I have been going to T&T since the original store in Richmond Radisson Hotel (no longer existed now). I am so proud to see T&T from a Mom & Pop store (literally) to a national brand in Canada. I really think T&T could become a decent player in US states as well.
@@worldlife9834 That's a very simplistic and biased way of looking at things. The original store was started by a Taiwanese mother, so they did more than copy. The Chinese also invented gunpowder/fireworks, compass, paper making and printing. And yeah, noodles.
@@worldlife9834 There's a lot of duplicates in Toronto however T&T is still the most well known and popular. Also one of the most aesthetically pleasing and clean Asian grocery stores. They're also good at importing specific products that the competitors lack so its not a simple copy/paste. T&T has its character which others have failed to completely copy.
T&T may be Chinese focused, but it's pretty pan-Asian with its offerings. Most locations in Canada have an aisle or two dedicated to Southeast Asian things, so Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia are pretty well-represented.
probably because you can fit most the rest of Asia inside just china....ergo...looooooot of cultural differences even among their people, vs smaller areas.
stop associating vietnam with southeast asia when it’s root culture and language is chinese/sinosphere based. stop misrepresenting vietnam and associating it with random countries it has nothing to do with
@@janishy.4392 not 100% true. Vietnamese cultural/language may be Chinese influenced, but if this store is like 99 Ranch, a Taiwanese or northern China based, they don't eat or carry herbs that only found in SE Asia region, like Vietnam, Thailand which has it own food dishes.
The selections are not as good as those in Canada . I can’t even find the better confectionary in the shop, Loblaw should have better buyers （merchandizers）
@@faulty2017 ranch 99 boosted up with the competition . The Edmonds ranch 99 tidy up with all the frozen fruits in upright freezers. The seafoods are encased in glass barriers,… the price increases not as crazy and frequent. Though I always complain about the long line ups for check outs and the outrageous price increases , their merchandise , though not as good as those in BC TNT, are in general decent. They carried good mooncakes and new year confectionery during festivals. But TnT carried a lot of junky brands, mostly from PRC, they don’t even have the more premium brands of pineapple cakes (鳳梨酥）from Taiwan. . The snacks are in boisterous wrappings but low quality. Yuck yuck and yuck !
my husband and i stopped by a T&T in edmonton and it was CRAZY!!! wish i had a bottomless stomach to try and eat everything! definitely want to go back.
Literally. I am an Asian and my first compliment of a western dessert is "oh good, it's not too sweet". I find most western desserts like cakes, donuts (literally any sweets) is to cut sugar by HALF. lol
I just got a T&T supermarket close to my house in Kanata. I checked it out a couple of times. Bought my daughter a birthday cake from there. It was so soft. Like melt in your mouth soft. I love going for dumplings and other Asian vegetables.
CAN WE TRADE!? Can Canada have Trader Joes now??? Seems like a fair swap. TnT is pretty awesome. So I don’t doubt it. There is nothing I know of that big in America where it’s the land of superstores. But Fr. we need trader joes in Canada it’s only fair lol 😂
What I've told is if Trader Joe's do want to come to 🇨🇦, they first must create their package bilingual labels, otherwise CFIA or Health Canada won't accept it!
@@Joseph-l6w It's similar in prices to Whole Pay Cheque (Whole Foods)! After they convert the US dollar to the Canadian it will no longer be $2 buck chuck!!!
I live in Vancouver Canada, and we've had T&T markets up here for decades now, just in the Vancouver region there are 6 of them, and they are always busy. And they are hugely popular among all sorts of cultures, not just Chinese or East Asian, lots and lots of white folks love them, Indian and Middle Eastern customers love the stuff there too, and what better way to learn about another culture, than through the food?
I worked for a head hunting firm located in Taiwan and had T&T Canada as customer. My task was to find expertise staff to work in the T&T HQ. It’s a highly respected chain now.
When I was a kid my parents would make several trips up to Vancouver Chinatown for groceries we couldn't find down here. It was fun. But Chinatown now sadly has gone into dispair. When I got older me and my friends used to drive up to Vancouver to hang out a lot and we would often see people we knew. It was a thing back in the day for Asian kids.
Vancouverite here. It is definitely a shame about Chinatown, but it feels like it served its purpose, since the original inhabitants of Chinatown have passed and their descendants assimilated into other communities. It's also gotten increasingly dangerous to be around at night. Most new Chinese immigrants tend to migrate to Richmond instead - lots of choice there. The Aberdeen Food Court, several malls. In Burnaby, near Metrotown Mall there's an asian mall called Crystal Mall that sells groceries and also has a food court with lots of Chinese options. Metrotown also has a T&T. Lot of small asian grocery stores scattered around Greater Vancouver as well.
@FlowerEmblem thanks. I'm familiar with those places. But it's not the same feeling where you can walk Chinatown with all the little shops. Wasn't huge, but it was fun. Seattle Chinatown is going to be lost soon as well as older Chinese generations disappear and new ones open up on the Eastside instead. Seattle hasn't exactly been business friendly either so that doesn't help. Hopefully they will make a comeback.
Yeah it is a bit unfortunate, even as I can understand many reasons behind it, like rising costs of living downtown. As teenagers I used to visit it with friends more often but it's definitely changed over the years. Some businesses still remain though - New Town Bakery, Phnom Penh, Chinatown BBQ are staples. I also like the Aiyaohno Cafe and Mello donuts. And the public part of the garden is always free. Sometimes they do events in the private garden. I visited Montréal and their Chinatown felt very maintained and vibrant, if you visit Quebec I recommend checking it out :) And Victoria's Chinatown (Fan Tan Alley) as well - it's tiny but interesting.
@@cychang3475 all I can say is loblaw must be belittling the spending power of the US customers. The merchandize in Bellevue tnt are junky and sub par.
As a non Asian living in Toronto for 30 years I regularly went to my local T&T for Tofu and mushroom varieties along with some relatively uncommon fruits but really just to see the Hot Table food section, the choices were mind expanding
I love T&T, they have every thing i need as an Asian shopper, i was in Vancouver BC last year, i can't wait to go back there next year, I hope they will open one in Oregon.
This makes me PROUD. I'm a naturalized Canadian citizen, born in Taiwan. It's wonderful our neighbours in the U.S. now get to enjoy T & T Supermarket with it's fabulous food! The founder is Taiwanese-Canadian businesswoman Cindy Lee.
@@anti-bullingjames I don't mind knowing the latest info. Nor do I mind learning something new or being corrected. My comment had no malice, unlike yours. I can't afford many of the fabulous products at T & T Supermarket, but I still enjoyed this video and happy for those lucky enough to buy everything they want.
There are Korean skin products that can be found at T&T in BC. As a Korean Canadian here, I shop at H Mart and T&T. Watch out for the sauces!! Gochujang, Korean soy (Ganjang) are cheaper at T&T in BC!!!
I'm so happy it's working out. This store is incredible. I used to take my daughter and her friend to see the live King Crab. It's a whole different world.
Loblaw purchased T&T in 2009 for $225 million Canadian, which was about $205.6 million U.S. at the time. T&T is an independently operated subsidiary of Loblaw, but the Lee family remains a significant shareholder. 🤷♀️
I was there on the Friday after they opened that week - the line moved pretty quickly - inside, is a different chaos lol ~ So wait a little more ~ it's okay , you will miss nothing,
Keep in mind there was a Walmart in the exact same place and they claimed they were closing down because of crime and economy. Shows you it probably had more to do with poor managing.
Fun facts: T&T is named after the founder’s two daughters, Tina & Tiffany. Founder almost went bankrupt, unable to make payroll, during the early days of their first store. Tina is currently the CEO. They copied the Costco model of offering free (Asian) food sampling throughout the store which has led to their success.
Pretty much the same when it first opened in London (Ontario) at the end of September this year. I was just there today. Love this place especially the cooked foods section and bakery!!!
T&T was intching to open up in the US for a long time, now it has finally paid off. Very Happy that the US can experience what we have here already in Canada.
If you taste a frozen Thai durian and it's bad, do not too write em off too early. Frozen Thai durians are actually quite nasty but don't give up, come to Malaysia or Singapore, try the local fresh ones and it's day and night different.
I went to opening day at Metrotown which I believe was the first T&T. It is now owned by Loblaws. They have good Portuguese tarts and coconut buns. I'm not Asian but shop there now and again.
First TNT was in Richmond, BC (President's Plaza). About TNT in Burnaby, there was a food court beside it in the1990's. Later, the mall was under renovation and the small food court was removed!
@@cao6496 I think Cindy’s book says the first was supposed to be Richmond but due to a delay Metrotown opened first. It doesn’t really matter. I can remember when Cambie & Marine opened and it was nuts there. So many people showed up.
Been going to T&T for years and they attracted competition here in Southern Ontario. Competition forced innovation, a push for higher quality, better standards, competitive pricing, and a wider variety of goods. By the way, just wait for Chinese New Years and mid-Autumn festival when they bring in specific items -- you'll be in for a treat.
T&T is immensely successful in Canada’s big cities, mainly because of the large Chinese population in Canada… I can see similar success if they open in New York or San Francisco…
There used to be a T&T near my neighborhood but shut down almost 10 years ago as the area is being redeveloped. I hope we get one again, though that may be unlikely as the company was bought by Loblaws, the biggest grocery store chain in Canada and they may be more likely to put one of there own stores there instead of T&T.
T&T in Canada is better than all the Ranch99s here in LA and SF, especially the T&T in Richmond BC, Landsdowne where it use to be a mall I absolutely hated...but T&T completely reversed that. I hope they acquire and completely buy out ranch99 and 100% change everything to T&T standards. I remember studying in Mountain View, CA and went to the Ranch99 there...was put off by how bad the Cha siu bao and other dimsums tasted. I instead went to Nijiya from then on where I indulged in sushi and tempura almost every weekend. Ranch99 needs a competitor anyways,
Taking over T&T is the best decision ever made by Loblaws. I am also glad that Loblaws kept the CEO's (the daughter of the mother who founded the company back in the early 90's). Loblaws did it right by keeping it "Asian".
They got interesting fruits in the frozen section you can only find in t&t, like guanabana (is how we call it in Peru) which makes for great smoothies or affordable passion fruit . They sell decent fresh salmon belly sashimi as well at reasonable prices.
The Dim Sum bars made T&T well known in Canada and free tea. T&T prices are on average more than other supermarkets. I used to go there 30 mins before closing time to get discounted food for lunch.
I was in Factoria last Wednesday night. It was an insane line. I had no idea what it was for. It was out and all the way around the building. I asked and someone yelled grocery store. I thought, hmm okay, you are crazy
As a Canadian, this video reminds myself how blessed I am to have a T&T 10-15 min walk from me and there is no lines. So it’s funny to see how people would endure the wait. For once something that is so prevalent in Canada and not in the states always it’s the reverse and it’s not in Canada yet or new in Canada where it’s more readily available in the states.
@deborahcheung8636 99ranch is the largest Asian market chain in the US. They are basically similar, but TnT has superior deli and bakery. 99ranch is more diverse, they carry a bit of Thai, Korean, Malaysian, Philippines, but mainly Chinese and Taiwanese. I've only been to the TnT in Richmond BC, so in comparison, I'd say 99ranch in general has a lot more imported goods in stock.
As a Canadian, I am surprised to hear this. Thought the US would already have their own and better version of asian supermarket than whatever you can get in Canada.
@@rja62b99 and T&T chains were created by the same parent company. However, although they sell similar goods, the shopping experience is quite different; especially T&T's hot food and bakery section. Also, 99 definitely caters to a more Vietnamese crowd.
Funny thing is 99 Ranch actually was one of the original investors. The name T&T is from Tawa (99 Ranch) and Tung-yi (Uni-president) a Taiwanese food production company. So that's why it's called T&T.
I’ll never forget being on the light rail in Singapore and seeing the “no eating, no drinking, and no durian fruit” signs on the inside of the train. Have yet to try the damn thing because all the controversy over the smell.
A friend of mine was once eating a durian-flavored cookie in her office, when it triggered a gas leak alarm and everybody had to evacuate from the office, talking about embarrassment. lol.
In Southeast Asia, I’ve heard said smell like shxx tastes like heaven, lol yes very common to see no drugs, no guns, no durian signs . A little goes a long way for me, think I like jackfruit better, congrats Washington on getting a t&t
How many is not many? There is literally a mid size Asian market a couple blocks from this T&t store. Another one up the hill in Newport hills. And 3 more other Asian markets in Bellevue.
As a Canadian this is really funny to see. I feel like we are always the ones waiting for American chains to come up here, so it’s cool to see something from Canada come to the US and for so many Americans to enjoy it.
probably because it's easier for chains here to gain enough money to feel safe branching into a market using a different currency... way i understand things is most canadian businesses don't feel financially secure in attempting a market breakthrough in usa.
@ yup! Makes sense, even the current situation aside you guys just have a much larger and robust economy than we do. Hopefully things get better for all of us soon, regardless!
I'm a little confused, don't they have any big Asian grocery chains in the US? Why does it look like something new to them? We have so many Asian grocery stores just here in Montreal. I went to check out the new T&T that opened in the city and I was not that impressed compared to the other ones I go to usually. Their prices are way higher so I'm not really getting any savings going there. I think their biggest selling point is the (pricey) bakery section but since I'm not much of a dessert person, I'll stick to my regular cheaper Asian groceries like C&T, Lian Tai and Kim Phat.
@@v.j.3029 They have but not as great as T&T. I have lived in California and NY.
Ranch 99
T&T was started decades ago in Canada by a Taiwanese Mom who had trouble finding Asian ingredients here in Canada. It expanded all across Canada. They had regular customers crossing the border from the American west coast and decided to expand to the U.S. - a very big gamble for any Canadian company and I don't think they sell Korean skincare here. Clearly they did their research because I see a lot of products that are unique to this American location like Dungeness crab. Their ready made hot section is great and the stores are clean. Hmart is more Korean focused, but T&T is more Chinese focused. I am blessed because I live in Toronto where we are spoiled with great Asian restaurants and supermarkets, so I am excited for these customers. FYI the company is now lead by the daughter of the founder and she has a clear vision for their business and customers.
FYI: I am fully aware that Loblaws bought majority shareholdership years ago. Her daughter Tina Lee still runs the business and is CEO.
Same as me. I've been 2 of T&T locations in Toronto on College & the Fairview Mall.
Nice & bright & smell yummy ❤
Dungeness crab is a local product in the West Coast - so you'll find it in all of the T&T in the Lower Mainland. Surprised they don't ship that to TO. We have Korean and Japanese skincare here as well
The TNT in Canada are much better run than the one in Bellevue. I was disappointed to spend the whole few hours and came out with only a pack of Korean grapes. The seafood selections are much much lower class, vegetables are not as fresh as those from Chinatown . Meat selections are less than pleasing than butcher shops . The cooked food are horrible. I was looking forward but sorry it’s sooo disappointing.
Big gamble, but I think Loblaws has the money to take that financial risk
Yes there is Korean skin care. Also some Japanese skin care.
Filipino-Canadian here. I grew up on T&T since there wasn't a lot of competition at the time. Now there's Lucky supermarket. But also, Seafood City with more Filipino goods. These days, I rarely go to T&T. But I'm glad they've expanded and giving shoppers more variety!
Seafoods city is good enough for me to go 😂 they have 4 locations now here in Las Vegas !!
And more money for Loblaws...
If you're in Toronto yes, lots of competition.
@@salomejoyce4731ako Seafood City is overpriced. 99 Ranch market for me😎
My wife and I went to T&T in Vancouver, BC. For the last month she's been talking about T&T opening here. I know where we're going.
Seattle T&T is quite different. The inventory is a blend of US Asian store. They don't carry the variety of the Canada stores. Not close
@@leeyuguang4424 yep, don’t waste your time if it is a long drive. The vegetables are beaten up and not even fresh. The seafoods on the ice are olden than me. The meat is less than pleasing. I think there is a big gap in expectations….. the problem is that tnt brand sounded premium , but the reality is that it is worst than Ranch 99 or Asian Family supermarket, or even Viet Wah. You can visit the bakery and you would be horrified at the pastries on display.
There will be another one opening up in Lynwood area, I won’t even bother to go.
As someone who grew up going to T&t before hearts started to come into Alberta, T&t will always be my favourite Asian grocery store.
T&T is the most successful Asian/Chinese groceries store all over Canada. Love the place. Very well managed, clean, and offered amazing selection of Asian stuff (including Korean, Japanese, Filipino, etc). Most stores also have great hot food/deli selections with ready to go meals like Dim Sum, Chinese BBQ, soup noodles and self-serve hot dishes (by weight). My favorite is the breakfast selection like the sticky rice wraps (so good and fresh) and Chinese crepes. I have been going to T&T since the original store in Richmond Radisson Hotel (no longer existed now). I am so proud to see T&T from a Mom & Pop store (literally) to a national brand in Canada. I really think T&T could become a decent player in US states as well.
The business model will be duplicated by other chains. Simple Chinese culture, copy.
@@worldlife9834 That's a very simplistic and biased way of looking at things. The original store was started by a Taiwanese mother, so they did more than copy. The Chinese also invented gunpowder/fireworks, compass, paper making and printing. And yeah, noodles.
@@worldlife9834 There's a lot of duplicates in Toronto however T&T is still the most well known and popular. Also one of the most aesthetically pleasing and clean Asian grocery stores. They're also good at importing specific products that the competitors lack so its not a simple copy/paste. T&T has its character which others have failed to completely copy.
T&T may be Chinese focused, but it's pretty pan-Asian with its offerings. Most locations in Canada have an aisle or two dedicated to Southeast Asian things, so Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia are pretty well-represented.
probably because you can fit most the rest of Asia inside just china....ergo...looooooot of cultural differences even among their people, vs smaller areas.
stop associating vietnam with southeast asia when it’s root culture and language is chinese/sinosphere based. stop misrepresenting vietnam and associating it with random countries it has nothing to do with
@@janishy.4392 not 100% true. Vietnamese cultural/language may be Chinese influenced, but if this store is like 99 Ranch, a Taiwanese or northern China based, they don't eat or carry herbs that only found in SE Asia region, like Vietnam, Thailand which has it own food dishes.
Went today was not disappointed. H Mart for Korean, Uwajimaya for Japanese, T&T for Chinese
The selections are not as good as those in Canada . I can’t even find the better confectionary in the shop, Loblaw should have better buyers （merchandizers）
99 ranch for Chinese
@@faulty2017 ranch 99 boosted up with the competition . The Edmonds ranch 99 tidy up with all the frozen fruits in upright freezers. The seafoods are encased in glass barriers,… the price increases not as crazy and frequent. Though I always complain about the long line ups for check outs and the outrageous price increases , their merchandise , though not as good as those in BC TNT, are in general decent. They carried good mooncakes and new year confectionery during festivals. But TnT carried a lot of junky brands, mostly from PRC, they don’t even have the more premium brands of pineapple cakes (鳳梨酥）from Taiwan. . The snacks are in boisterous wrappings but low quality. Yuck yuck and yuck !
Don't forget Mitsuwa.
They recently added Peking Duck to-go! I must try lol
thanks, now the line will grow 10x this weekend
Yeah cause it’s so exclusively known
They are in every major Canadian city. My late mother help started at the very first Toronto expansion.
my husband and i stopped by a T&T in edmonton and it was CRAZY!!! wish i had a bottomless stomach to try and eat everything! definitely want to go back.
Asian’s best compliment for a western dessert: it’s not very sweet. 😂
Literally. I am an Asian and my first compliment of a western dessert is "oh good, it's not too sweet". I find most western desserts like cakes, donuts (literally any sweets) is to cut sugar by HALF. lol
Nice to see T&T open in the US! We're so spoiled in Canada!
So true ❤
We really are. But I think there their egg tarts look better than ours. I'm have to check it out. 😂
@ yes I noticed that too🤣
@@pinky9875 Same! noticing the egg tarts like...
@@GUTOMOFFICIAL 🤣😂👍
I love that Hana joined Lauren out on the field for this segment. 🥰
The whole News Team needs to take a field trip to T&T.
T&T is very successful in Canada due to the dense Asian population in large cities. T&T really understands what Asian people want.
I just got a T&T supermarket close to my house in Kanata. I checked it out a couple of times. Bought my daughter a birthday cake from there. It was so soft. Like melt in your mouth soft.
I love going for dumplings and other Asian vegetables.
T&T in the Vancouver area also has a Filipino selection, Metro Vancouver also has a large Filipino population
It has smaller stock compared to Surrey Central's Lucky Supertstore
T&T has a section for everyone. Filipino, Vietnamese, Thai, Korean, Japanese, etc.
cool i didn’t know about the large concentration of Filipinos in Vancouver
@ around 1 million Filipinos in Canada , Vancouver has over 100,000 , Toronto has over 300,000
Go, go T &T!!!! Canada represents!!
CAN WE TRADE!? Can Canada have Trader Joes now??? Seems like a fair swap. TnT is pretty awesome. So I don’t doubt it. There is nothing I know of that big in America where it’s the land of superstores. But Fr. we need trader joes in Canada it’s only fair lol 😂
I vote for Trader Joe's as well !!!!! Long overdue 🇨🇦
That’s my exact thoughts too. We need a trader joes in Metro Vancouver area.
What I've told is if Trader Joe's do want to come to 🇨🇦, they first must create their package bilingual labels, otherwise CFIA or Health Canada won't accept it!
@@Joseph-l6w It's similar in prices to Whole Pay Cheque (Whole Foods)! After they convert the US dollar to the Canadian it will no longer be $2 buck chuck!!!
but we have Whole Foods and Nature's Fare in Canada too
I live in Vancouver Canada, and we've had T&T markets up here for decades now, just in the Vancouver region there are 6 of them, and they are always busy.
And they are hugely popular among all sorts of cultures, not just Chinese or East Asian, lots and lots of white folks love them, Indian and Middle Eastern customers love the stuff there too, and what better way to learn about another culture, than through the food?
Blah blah blah
I have been going to T&T Supermarket almost 30 years since. Nice, lots of ingredients i needed. Fresh vegies and fruits
I worked for a head hunting firm located in Taiwan and had T&T Canada as customer. My task was to find expertise staff to work in the T&T HQ. It’s a highly respected chain now.
When I was a kid my parents would make several trips up to Vancouver Chinatown for groceries we couldn't find down here. It was fun. But Chinatown now sadly has gone into dispair.
When I got older me and my friends used to drive up to Vancouver to hang out a lot and we would often see people we knew. It was a thing back in the day for Asian kids.
Vancouverite here. It is definitely a shame about Chinatown, but it feels like it served its purpose, since the original inhabitants of Chinatown have passed and their descendants assimilated into other communities. It's also gotten increasingly dangerous to be around at night. Most new Chinese immigrants tend to migrate to Richmond instead - lots of choice there. The Aberdeen Food Court, several malls. In Burnaby, near Metrotown Mall there's an asian mall called Crystal Mall that sells groceries and also has a food court with lots of Chinese options. Metrotown also has a T&T. Lot of small asian grocery stores scattered around Greater Vancouver as well.
@FlowerEmblem thanks. I'm familiar with those places. But it's not the same feeling where you can walk Chinatown with all the little shops. Wasn't huge, but it was fun.
Seattle Chinatown is going to be lost soon as well as older Chinese generations disappear and new ones open up on the Eastside instead. Seattle hasn't exactly been business friendly either so that doesn't help. Hopefully they will make a comeback.
Yeah it is a bit unfortunate, even as I can understand many reasons behind it, like rising costs of living downtown. As teenagers I used to visit it with friends more often but it's definitely changed over the years. Some businesses still remain though - New Town Bakery, Phnom Penh, Chinatown BBQ are staples. I also like the Aiyaohno Cafe and Mello donuts. And the public part of the garden is always free. Sometimes they do events in the private garden.
I visited Montréal and their Chinatown felt very maintained and vibrant, if you visit Quebec I recommend checking it out :) And Victoria's Chinatown (Fan Tan Alley) as well - it's tiny but interesting.
One thing might surprise you. T&T is now owned by Loblaw. Canadian largest grocery chain bought T&T a few years back.
T&T was purchased by Loblaw for $225 million in 2009.
@@cychang3475 all I can say is loblaw must be belittling the spending power of the US customers. The merchandize in Bellevue tnt are junky and sub par.
Founder's family is still in the management though.
As a non Asian living in Toronto for 30 years I regularly went to my local T&T for Tofu and mushroom varieties along with some relatively uncommon fruits but really just to see the Hot Table food section, the choices were mind expanding
Okay, but when are we getting one in Portland?
I love T&T, they have every thing i need as an Asian shopper, i was in Vancouver BC last year, i can't wait to go back there next year, I hope they will open one in Oregon.
I imagine if Trader Joes were ever to open a store in Canada it would be a similar reaction. It seems like a fair trade!
That's a great idea! No need to head south anymore 😅
I love the T&T in Ottawa. So glad T&T is expanding southward.
This makes me PROUD. I'm a naturalized Canadian citizen, born in Taiwan. It's wonderful our neighbours in the U.S. now get to enjoy T & T Supermarket with it's fabulous food! The founder is Taiwanese-Canadian businesswoman Cindy Lee.
Does not matter who founded this. Its owned by loblaw
She already sold it. Also, she stated that she was proud of her Chinese root-- probably something you don't want to hear.
@@walkamile5 It was just a comment. You don't have to be a scrooge.
@@anti-bullingjames I don't mind knowing the latest info. Nor do I mind learning something new or being corrected. My comment had no malice, unlike yours. I can't afford many of the fabulous products at T & T Supermarket, but I still enjoyed this video and happy for those lucky enough to buy everything they want.
@@anti-bullingjames Cindy Lee and her family are from Taiwan according to Wikipedia.
There are Korean skin products that can be found at T&T in BC. As a Korean Canadian here, I shop at H Mart and T&T. Watch out for the sauces!! Gochujang, Korean soy (Ganjang) are cheaper at T&T in BC!!!
😅😂🤣...LOL...
You said you are Korean-Canadian but you got "Gochu-Jang" wrong it's not Goshujang.
@ oh ya I did!! lol misspelled it!
That's a crazy amount of customers. In Vancouver If I go it's mid-morning weekday and pretty empty.
I live in Toronto, and where I live, there is at least 6 Chinese food supermarket chains that compete against T&T.
I'm so happy it's working out. This store is incredible. I used to take my daughter and her friend to see the live King Crab. It's a whole different world.
Loblaw purchased T&T in 2009 for $225 million Canadian, which was about $205.6 million U.S. at the time.
T&T is an independently operated subsidiary of Loblaw, but the Lee family remains a significant shareholder. 🤷♀️
I'm a Vancouverite (BC) and have been T&T's faithful customer for 27 years. Is it worth the wait, you ask? You bet! ❤
Amazing. A Cdn chain succeeding in US.
We have one right here near my home in Calgary.
Success. That is what that looks like.
Time will tell. If the price same as many place like Uwajimaja, H-Mart, and other Asian markets why bother to shop there unless specialty item.
@@DLong-wp8suExactly, I'm not waiting in those lines when I can shop elsewhere for what I usually need.
I was there on the Friday after they opened that week - the line moved pretty quickly - inside, is a different chaos lol ~ So wait a little more ~ it's okay , you will miss nothing,
Im in BC, canada. I go to T&T all the time lol its so fun to go there and see things ive never seen before.
Keep in mind there was a Walmart in the exact same place and they claimed they were closing down because of crime and economy. Shows you it probably had more to do with poor managing.
Crime in Factoria?
That is not true. This is not Seattle.
The WalMart close this location due to lack of traffic. This was a couple of years before they started closing all the stores in the hoods.
Walmart closed due to mismanagement. I went to that Walmart sometime to the electronics section and found no help or no employee there ever.
@@yordanpopovIt sure is true. Where you been?
Fun facts: T&T is named after the founder’s two daughters, Tina & Tiffany. Founder almost went bankrupt, unable to make payroll, during the early days of their first store. Tina is currently the CEO. They copied the Costco model of offering free (Asian) food sampling throughout the store which has led to their success.
We need one in the East coast. The pastries look so good. 😭
Pretty much the same when it first opened in London (Ontario) at the end of September this year. I was just there today. Love this place especially the cooked foods section and bakery!!!
Congrats, T&T is an amazing Asian supermarket chain
I'm glad the US has a T&T now, too
A smaller one is supposedly on the way in Lynnwood.
The stores in Canada are always busy. So cool to see it will be successful in the States.
T&T was intching to open up in the US for a long time, now it has finally paid off. Very Happy that the US can experience what we have here already in Canada.
@@MrAlan1828 the tnt in Bellevue is much inferior than the ones in Canada. The quality of the merchandise has been very disappointing
Such a fun piece!
This must’ve been the best journalist trip ever
If you taste a frozen Thai durian and it's bad, do not too write em off too early. Frozen Thai durians are actually quite nasty but don't give up, come to Malaysia or Singapore, try the local fresh ones and it's day and night different.
I went to opening day at Metrotown which I believe was the first T&T. It is now owned by Loblaws. They have good Portuguese tarts and coconut buns. I'm not Asian but shop there now and again.
Yes, Metrotown T&T in Burnaby, Canada was the first ever location, and I was there too when it first opened in 1993.
@@davidlam8611 So long ago!
First TNT was in Richmond, BC (President's Plaza). About TNT in Burnaby, there was a food court beside it in the1990's. Later, the mall was under renovation and the small food court was removed!
@@cao6496 I think Cindy’s book says the first was supposed to be Richmond but due to a delay Metrotown opened first. It doesn’t really matter. I can remember when Cambie & Marine opened and it was nuts there. So many people showed up.
@@jujube8067 maybe it was not called tnt at that time. Just a supermarket at the plaza . Their small family business started in that way ?
Been going to T&T for years and they attracted competition here in Southern Ontario. Competition forced innovation, a push for higher quality, better standards, competitive pricing, and a wider variety of goods.
By the way, just wait for Chinese New Years and mid-Autumn festival when they bring in specific items -- you'll be in for a treat.
T&T is immensely successful in Canada’s big cities, mainly because of the large Chinese population in Canada… I can see similar success if they open in New York or San Francisco…
You can find a lot of items in large Asian grocery store chains in Washington now. What makes T&T stand out is their deli section.
good story. you guys are funny. that crunchy pork skin and egg tart looked so yummy!
what big store is nearby to the new T&T in factoria?
Please come to the south Texas, i always visited one in Toronto every time i go there.
There used to be a T&T near my neighborhood but shut down almost 10 years ago as the area is being redeveloped. I hope we get one again, though that may be unlikely as the company was bought by Loblaws, the biggest grocery store chain in Canada and they may be more likely to put one of there own stores there instead of T&T.
Loblaws is crazy expensive. Shop there ONCE
T&T in Canada is better than all the Ranch99s here in LA and SF, especially the T&T in Richmond BC, Landsdowne where it use to be a mall I absolutely hated...but T&T completely reversed that. I hope they acquire and completely buy out ranch99 and 100% change everything to T&T standards. I remember studying in Mountain View, CA and went to the Ranch99 there...was put off by how bad the Cha siu bao and other dimsums tasted. I instead went to Nijiya from then on where I indulged in sushi and tempura almost every weekend. Ranch99 needs a competitor anyways,
When the company plans to open in Adelaide Australia?
How does T&T compare to 99 Ranch from California? There are at least two 99 Ranch locations in the Seattle area according to Google Maps.
We love T&T here in Canada, great food, produce, all meats are awesome
Fairview Mall in North York location is always busy and is immaculately maintained 😊
Come to Malaysia for fresh off-the-tree durian, it's in season now. Thank you
I’m so happy for them
I’m in Toronto . I only go to TNT for groceries . They have so many stuffs that you cannot find in other grocery stores .
Lobslaw making so much money from Chinese-Canadian and now making even more money from American-Chinese 😂
Proper term is chinese american
American chinese is american national in china
She is Taiwanese Canadian.
@skatingcanuck9837 yup. I know that. (Her story was aired on Fairchild TV).
Taking over T&T is the best decision ever made by Loblaws. I am also glad that Loblaws kept the CEO's (the daughter of the mother who founded the company back in the early 90's). Loblaws did it right by keeping it "Asian".
@weil9525 Yes but everything in T&T is so EXPENSIVE
America, you’re welcome. We love it here too.
I am so going to go and shop there. T&T is the best. 😀
They got interesting fruits in the frozen section you can only find in t&t, like guanabana (is how we call it in Peru) which makes for great smoothies or affordable passion fruit . They sell decent fresh salmon belly sashimi as well at reasonable prices.
The Dim Sum bars made T&T well known in Canada and free tea. T&T prices are on average more than other supermarkets. I used to go there 30 mins before closing time to get discounted food for lunch.
Nice to see a Canadian company doing well
The Portugese Napoleon custard tart is amazing 😃
Please open one in LA！
There is rumor 7 west coast store will be open and the 1st LA store will be open sometime next year.
@@DLong-wp8su San Jose and LA both will try to open at the same time , late next year maybe if everything goes on schedule
I was in Factoria last Wednesday night. It was an insane line. I had no idea what it was for. It was out and all the way around the building. I asked and someone yelled grocery store. I thought, hmm okay, you are crazy
As a Canadian, this video reminds myself how blessed I am to have a T&T 10-15 min walk from me and there is no lines. So it’s funny to see how people would endure the wait. For once something that is so prevalent in Canada and not in the states always it’s the reverse and it’s not in Canada yet or new in Canada where it’s more readily available in the states.
Durian is import from Asia
Very expensive fruits
Expensive doesn't mean it taste good...
Can confirm. The line around the supermarket in Bellevue nearly surrounds the perimeter. I couldn't get in!
Is there no 99 Ranch, 168, or Great Wall there?
99ranch, you're looking at the end of your market dominance! I hope to see TnT in California soon!
Canadian here with only T&T experience. Is 99Ranch similar to T&T? Do they sell the same stuff??
@deborahcheung8636 99ranch is the largest Asian market chain in the US. They are basically similar, but TnT has superior deli and bakery. 99ranch is more diverse, they carry a bit of Thai, Korean, Malaysian, Philippines, but mainly Chinese and Taiwanese. I've only been to the TnT in Richmond BC, so in comparison, I'd say 99ranch in general has a lot more imported goods in stock.
PROBABLY NO POISON IN THE FOOD
Were you expecting it?
"You need support" on food story 😂😂❤
Korean cosmetic and skin care section is great.
They all wanna be white?
T&T stands for Tina and Tiffany, after the original founders daughters.
As a Canadian, T&T’s prices have gone up compared to other small stores My favourite here in BC is Henlong Supermarket - T&T can’t beat their pricing
As a Canadian, I am surprised to hear this. Thought the US would already have their own and better version of asian supermarket than whatever you can get in Canada.
Big difference is their wine and other alcohol section, quite different!
that'd be Seafood City
we have asian family market in the seattle area and 99 ranch all over the west coast. Idk what the hype is about with T&T
@@rja62b99 and T&T chains were created by the same parent company. However, although they sell similar goods, the shopping experience is quite different; especially T&T's hot food and bakery section. Also, 99 definitely caters to a more Vietnamese crowd.
Funny thing is 99 Ranch actually was one of the original investors. The name T&T is from Tawa (99 Ranch) and Tung-yi (Uni-president) a Taiwanese food production company. So that's why it's called T&T.
I’ll never forget being on the light rail in Singapore and seeing the “no eating, no drinking, and no durian fruit” signs on the inside of the train. Have yet to try the damn thing because all the controversy over the smell.
Either you're absolutely disgusted or you end up over indulging. 🤣
I hated it when I was younger. I'm older now and still hate it...
A friend of mine was once eating a durian-flavored cookie in her office, when it triggered a gas leak alarm and everybody had to evacuate from the office, talking about embarrassment. lol.
In Southeast Asia, I’ve heard said smell like shxx tastes like heaven, lol yes very common to see no drugs, no guns, no durian signs .
A little goes a long way for me, think I like jackfruit better, congrats Washington on getting a t&t
You either love it or you hate it!
@@h4z Am I allowed to love it and hate it at the same time? 😆
we need T&T Supermarket in Tulsa, OK
Please open 4 stores in Los Angeles
I reside in Vancouver.British Columbia.Canada and T&T Market has 10 locations in our lower mainland ❤
How are the prices though?
plices
The prices will be good. It's Asians shopping there after all.
America is great for great business.
As s proud Canadian, I knew T&T would do well with their decision to expand to US, but this line up is something surprising!
Yes. Thank you for making Factoria stand still traffic every weekend for a supermarket.
NEED THIS IN AUSTRALIA!!
AND IN THE UK! COME TO LONDON!!
That's the most clean queue I saw in the USA... It's nice to see when the crowds were patiently queueing, that's a nice crowd
WA doesn’t have many Asian stores and food places, they are scarce. When a big Asian market opened and they go crazy.
thats patently false...theyre just all in the Seattle metro...
@@LIL-MAN_theOG there are the Uwajimaya stores in bellevue and renton
How many is not many? There is literally a mid size Asian market a couple blocks from this T&t store. Another one up the hill in Newport hills. And 3 more other Asian markets in Bellevue.