2025 Period 8 - EN

Passing on Cultural Traditions

Dear T&T Team,

As a business born in Richmond B.C., celebrating our cultural roots is who we are. In this multicultural mosaic environment, we celebrate our heritage and festivals more deeply – and that depth was built by T&T over time. For over 30 years, T&T has helped Canadians celebrate moments that matter, by making the taste of home accessible and rooted in our every day lives. Our Canadian customers know that Dragon Boat Festival means fresh handmade sticky rice dumplings, and Mid Autumn Festival means a selection of their favourite mooncakes from all over Asia.

Last year, we opened our doors in Bellevue, WA and stepped into a different cultural context: America’s melting pot. This past Lunar New Year, we noticed our US festival sales participation wasn’t as strong as in Canada.  After visiting other Asian grocers in Washington, it became clear that many Asian Americans haven’t had the same access and product assortment to celebrate their heritage through food. During this year’s Dragon Boat Festival, we were surprised to find that the only festival offerings at these grocers were frozen sticky rice dumplings tucked away in a corner freezer with no signage at all. It’s no wonder these cultural celebrations dissipate over time for Asian American immigrants and their children.

Then enters T&T. We now have a unique opportunity to re-introduce this cultural journey for Asian Americans – inviting them to celebrations, traditions, and cherished pastimes from the very beginning. From our frontline colleagues to our carefully curated selection of authentic Asian foods, we have the power to be cultural stewards. These traditions need to be taught and cultivated before they can be embraced. We can do more storytelling in our stores. We can take the time to explain our products to customers. We can do more sampling. We can make festivals more accessible to everyone.

This is T&T’s moment to preserve and pass on culture – we’ve done it successfully for Canadians, now let’s do this for Asian Americans.

Tina Lee

CEO

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Aimee - The warm smile behind our organized inventory

(Lougheed store) Store Admin Dept. -Carolyn Zhang

Aimee, the SIS of the LH store's Grocery Department, quietly monitors stock on the sales floor and in the backroom every day with a smile on her face. She is responsible for counting items, verifying accuracy in the inventory, and keeping shelves well stocked. Everything she does helps ensure that our customers can shop with confidence and also makes restocking a seamless process for the team.

To improve inventory accuracy, Aimee often checks with departments on order and delivery statuses, and will immediately verify with the receiving team if she spots discrepancies. When issues like damaged goods or irregular stock arises, she consults the Department Head to determine if inventory adjustments or product removal are needed in order to keep the sales floor neat and organized.

Aimee not only streamlines processes in her daily work, but also learns the roles and tips from different departments. She often says with a smile, "Teamwork is the key to efficient inventory management and great customer service." Going forward, she hopes to keep growing with her colleagues and help create a warm and stable workplace where customers arrive happy and leave satisfied.

Lijun - The hidden gem behind Warden store's popular Chinese-style crepes

(Warden store) Store Admin Dept - Betty Lin

Whenever you pass by the dim sum section, you'll always see one lady busily working at the Chinese-style crepe counter, spreading batter, cracking eggs, brushing on sauce, and adding toppings and the crispy fritter before folding it all together. Her smooth and artful process always catches the customers' attention.

This is Lijun, a hidden gem in our store. For 14 years, she has quietly dedicated herself to the dim sum kitchen, embodying the spirit of honesty, integrity and teamwork. She is a bright light in the department.

When the DT store opened last year, Lijun was tasked with learning to make a new, fancy crepe recipe within a short period of time. And she didn't disappoint. After mastering the technique, she also trained our new colleagues at the DT store. The crepes were a big hit when the store opened, attracting a steady flow of customers. In just one month after opening, Lijun and the cooked food team brought in $57,200 in sales.

Apart from making Chinese-style crepes, Lijun is also extremely experienced with both the front and back-of-house operations. She has played a key role in training new staff at the LO, BR and DT stores, contributing valuable ideas to the dim sum section. Her teamwork, innovation, and dedication make her a true hidden gem.

Dishonesty won't stay hidden

Asset Protection Dept.

Employee A from the Bakery Department abused their position by hiding multiple bread and other food items in the work area, putting everything in a shopping bag at the end of their shift before attempting to leave without paying. This employee was caught red-handed by our Asset Protection Department. An investigation found that this was not an isolated incident. This individual was immediately terminated and the police filed theft charges.

This employee mistakenly believed that by hiding products in their own shopping bag, no one would catch on, but didn't consider that the surveillance footage, the visible shapes of the goods in the shopping bag, as well as the watchful eyes of the Cashiers and Asset Protection team would expose the theft.

Canada is a country governed by law. Theft violates company policy and can jeopardize permanent residency or citizenship, even leading to revocation of one's status. A shopping bag is not beyond the law. The Asset Protection Department would like to remind everyone to abide by company rules, uphold integrity, protect their future, and work together to protect our workplace and company reputation.