Local the loser in consumers’ battle to survive Crampton’s Market owner blames inflation, rising wages in decision to close, delivering blow to dozens of Manitoba farmers, businesses By: Gabrielle Piché Posted: 7:00 PM CST Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023

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This article was published 28/02/2023 (939 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

HEADINGLEY — Janice Peterson loaded her cart with Manitoba-made jams and syrup.

Around her, people bustled through Crampton’s Market, grabbing locally produced products — perogies from Kleefeld, pizza from Starbuck, ice cream from Winnipeg.

“Where else are we going to go?” Peterson said, looking around the Headingley shop.

She, and all the people who filled the parking lot Tuesday, had heard the news that Crampton’s Market is closing March 12.

Peterson will not be getting local vegetables from the retailer this summer.

“There is always a feeling of guilt, wondering, ‘Is there something else I could have done?’” said Jarrett Davidson, Crampton’s Market’s owner. “It (was) inevitable.”

Crampton’s Market began in 1997. It moved from the corner of Bishop Grandin Boulevard and Waverley Street to Headingley in 2019 after Davidson bought the business. He also owns T&T Seeds, which shares the lot.

Crampton’s Market buys from roughly 50 local farmers and up to 50 local producers, distributors and other businesses, Davidson said.

The company has had a trend of “negative growth” since last spring, he added.

Foot traffic in the building is down about 20 per cent from last year. Since the pandemic, Crampton’s Market has had an increasingly difficult time attracting customers, Davidson said.

“We see that people are very cost-conscious with their purchases,” he said. “(They) can only do so many things with a very tight wallet.”

One customer the Free Press spoke to at the store noted prices higher than those at big chains, such as Superstore.

An English cucumber cost $4.49 at Crampton’s Tuesday. Superstore advertised its product for $2.99.

Food prices rose 8.9 per cent nationally last year, according to Statistics Canada.

At the same time, there’s been an increase in company operating costs, Davidson said. Raising prices to make up the difference has been “met with resistance.”

Fewer purchases combined with higher costs have put pressure on revenue, he added.

“It (has been) more difficult to find a way to sell more with that level of wage-cost increase.”–Jarrett Davison

Davidson highlighted labour costs. Minimum wage increased to $13.50 from $11.95 in October; it’s set to hit $15 hourly in the fall.

About 75 per cent of Crampton’s Market summer staff make minimum wage, he said. Most of the nearly 40 workers are high school and university students.

“We’re often the first job that most of these kids have ever had,” he said. “It (has been) more difficult to find a way to sell more with that level of wage-cost increase.”

Crampton’s didn’t receive wage subsidies to the extent that other long-standing businesses could during the pandemic because of the company’s 2019 reopening, he said.

The move and subsequent renovations added up to more than $1 million in expenses, he said.

“We tried very, very hard to adapt to all these changing market conditions and, ultimately, we weren’t able to adapt enough to be in a position to be profitable,” he said.

Currently, the company has 17 staff. Davidson said he’s focusing on them, and paying vendors, before deciding on the building’s future. Expanding T&T Seeds or leasing to someone new are options, he said.

“I believe that local… has taken a back seat to consumers’ needs for survival, and for buying food and clothes for their families,” Davidson said. “The only way that local can survive is if consumers do actually support it.”

The town will be “sorry to see (Crampton’s) go,” said Lori Thorsteinson, vice-president of the Headingley Chamber of Commerce.

J & H Garden Centre, which carried local vegetables down the road from Crampton’s, closed its doors last year.

Crampton’s Market’s end leaves Headingley without a bakery and place for fresh produce.

“(Crampton’s was) fighting the big-box stores,” said Thorsteinson, who used to pick up pies and cinnamon bread from the market.

“The produce and everything, there are so many people involved in this store. My heart goes out to them… it’s a domino effect.”–Elaine Guy

Increased operating costs means small businesses must bump up prices to survive, said Joyce Livingston, co-owner of Crampton’s Manitoba Maid.

Her company sold its jams and syrups at Crampton’s Market. Despite the names, the two are not related. (At one point, the Cramptons owned both the market and the jam business.)

“Unfortunately, you have to hand (costs) down,” Livingston said. “I guess as long as the consumer can bear the price, that’s what you have to do.”

She called it “unfortunate” to see small, local retailers close.

“They’ve put a lot of heart and soul into these places,” she said.

Elaine Guy placed an Archie’s pizza in her cart Tuesday. She’d visit Crampton’s every few weeks, she said.

“The produce and everything, there are so many people involved in this store,” Guy said. “My heart goes out to them… it’s a domino effect.”

Crampton’s Market is offering discounts in its final weeks.

gabrielle.piche@winnipegfreepress.com