Big Changes Underway for Owners of Natural Food Store

EDMONTON–The owners of a Whyte Avenue natural foods store are going global.

Mark Craft and Diane Shaskin, who own Terra Natural Food Market, are in the process of expanding their store, their business–and their family.

"It’s an incredibly hectic time these days," says Craft. "I’m glad we were married last year and got that over with."

The stress has been considerable. First of all, they formed a new public company on the Canadian Venture Exchange called Planet Organic Health Corp. that goes under the symbol POH. That involved scores of meetings with lawyers, accountants and consultants to meet all the stringent requirements for a new public company.

At the same time, they’ve been managing Terra, located on Whyte Avenue near 103^rd Street. The efforts of Craft, Shaskin and Terra’s staff have enabled the store’s business to grow by around 13% annually. They’re now planning to move Terra to a new, larger site in the same community with convenient parking. They can’t disclose the location yet because the lease is still being negotiated.

Then they announced this week that Terra will be acquired by Planet Organic in what they believe will the first of many "consolidations" that will improve the way natural food stores are operated.

Then they got the news this month from Vietnam that their application through the International Mission of Hope to adopt a baby had been officially accepted, the first private adoption from Vietnam arranged through the Alberta government. A three-month-old boy had been found for them in the small community of Lang Son near the Chinese border.

Shaskin set off for Hanoi to see the baby and continue the adoption formalities. Both of them will go to Vietnam within the next few months (Shaskin’s second trip) to bring home the baby–their first child.

"I know that what we’ve gone through with the business changes will be nothing compared to the stresses of parenthood," says Shaskin.

When they’re not changing diapers, they’ll be looking for other natural profitable food stores to acquire. Planet Organic plans to acquire up to 25 stores within five years. The company’s goal is to maximize the potential of each location by applying the marketing and operational strategies that made Terra such a success.

For example, small stores usually can’t negotiate volume discounts for their purchases. The average natural food stores negotiates with over 200 suppliers.

"Planet Organic will be able to centralize purchasing, establish product standards and negotiate discounts," says Craft.

Shaskin says stores acquired by Planet Organic will retain their community connections and specialized knowledge about the needs of their customers. Local managers, for example, will still have the ability to acquire the products that best meet the needs of their particular markets.

"Our goals are to provide the highest quality organic and natural foods, supplements, body-care products and organic produce while emphasizing customer service, community involvement and employee satisfaction."

For additional information:
Mark Craft or Diane Shaskin
Terra Natural Food Market
780 429-7133
terra@compusmart.ab.ca

Vietnam adoption photos and information
http://www.compusmart.ab.ca/terra/Nam/Hanoi1.html