2026 Period 3 - EN

33 Years of T&T

Dear T&T Family,

March is one of my favourite months—it’s our anniversary! To celebrate, every year, we show up strong in-store and online to spotlight T&T Private Label. This year is no different.

How it started:

T&T Private Label started as “Mom’s Choice.” Cindy Lee hoped to create products to help feed busy families. As it grew, and so did our vision. We dedicated ourselves to creating a brand that represents our values: quality you can trust and great value for money.  That’s when Mom’s Choice evolved into T&T Private Label.

How it’s done:

Our in-house Private Label expert, Edmond Lam, has more to share about how it’s done. Edmond is our Director of Direct Import and Private Label. He works with teams across T&T to bring new products from ideas to shelf:

1. Strategy: We begin by asking: What do our customers want? We look at trends, gaps in our own products, and what’s missing in the market. This guides our strategy and helps us decide which categories to focus on.

2. Shop with purpose: Armed with this plan, our buyers travel to food markets and trade shows around the world to find products and ideas that fit customer needs.

3. Test and refine: Samples go to our Food Safety and Quality Assurance team for rigorous testing, followed by inspection, certification and site visits.

4. Package and tell the story: Marketing designs beautiful packaging that will make customers stop in their tracks. We write something called product romance to inspire them to try something new.

5. Sell, sell, sell: Only when everything aligns with customer expectations do we bring it to shelves. And then we sell the hell out of it.

-  Edmond Lam, Director of Direct Import

Favourite Private Label products

Tina Lee, CEO: Green onion pancake

Edmond Lam, Director of Direct Import: Juicy pork dumpling

Kevin Sin, Sr. Category Manager, Direct Import: Assorted Vegetable & Fruit Crisps

Sam Chen, Category Manager: Assorted Vegetable & Fruit Crisps

Today:

Our Private Label isn’t just in T&T. You’ll be able to find our collection at Real Canadian Superstores, MAXIs, Loblaws and Nofrills across the country. Even cooler, Air Canada has chosen T&T rice crackers on Asia routes and in business class network-wide!

I’d like to take this chance to thank the private label development team, marketing, food safety, and store staff who collectively make this brand great. To reach #1 asian food destination.

Tina Lee

CEO

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Someone who shines in the heat and rhythm 

 (Lynnwood store) Store Admin Dept. Ashley Cao

At the Lynnwood store's Kitchen Department, Head Chef Michael is a constant presence, moving swiftly yet remaining calm through every peak service rush. Whether it's prepping ingredients, plating dishes, or handling last minute orders, he manages each task with quiet precision. Even when the pace reaches its most intense, he maintains a steady rhythm that keeps the entire team coordinated and the kitchen running seamlessly.

As Lunar New Year approaches, order volumes in the kitchen surge, leaving hardly a moment to pause during peak hours. Even in the rush, Michael consistently completes all wok station tasks within his shift while maintaining a high standard of quality. After finishing his duties, he proactively preps ingredients and semi-prepared items for the next day, neatly organizing them so the early shift can start smoothly. During this busy period, teammates who take over his station often remark how much easier their shifts are thanks to his preparation. 

During lunchtime, you can always see Michael casually chatting with his colleagues, sharing his past work experiences while showing genuine care for those around him. Even with colleagues he works with less often, he makes a point to greet them warmly. Whenever people talk about Michael, it's always with praise and admiration. 

Michael demonstrates T&T's values of "be the best we can" and "help one another" through his consistent actions. Amidst the heat and rhythm in the kitchen, he proves that executing everyday tasks well and striving for perfection is what turns the ordinary into something extraordinary.

Treat customers with sincerity and promote with enthusiasm

(Surrey store) Store Admin Dept. Carol Yan

Foot traffic at supermarkets peaks on weekends, making it the busiest time for in-store sampling. Following the Department Head's direction, Ava completed cross-department training and actively supports sampling activities across the store based on operational needs. 

As a member of the cooked foods team, Ava has a unique perspective of food. At her sampling table, she engages customers through her little bee speaker, demonstrating simple cooking techniques while highlighting each product's special features. When faced with questions from customers, Ava always responds patiently and shares pairing tips and storage advice so they can enjoy the products and recreate them at home.

With Ava's enthusiastic and professional recommendations, customers flock to the sampling table, many who were just passing by stop to try the products and make a purchase. Sampling products were restocked frequently, sales noticeably increased, and Ava's sampling station has maintained a lively yet orderly atmosphere. 

Thanks to Ava's dedicated promotion, sampling is no longer a simple taste test, but an interactive product experience. Through her approach, customers can genuinely feel the store's professionalism and enthusiasm.

Everything can come crashing down with one single misstep

Asset Protection Dept.

The first steps in any career often set the tone for everything that follows. We are often reminded to act carefully and never let a moment of greed undo years of hard-earned effort. This is more than just a proverb, but a vital reminder to uphold our principles in every choice or action we take, and resist temptation. Because trust and integrity are ultimately the most valuable assets in the workplace and the foundation to long-term growth and success. 

Recently, a seasoned colleague in the Cashier Department of a certain store misused their position and transferred points from customers without membership cards into their own account, seriously violating company policy resulting in immediate termination. This colleague wrongly assumed points weren't tangible assets and that using an account not registered in their name would go unnoticed. However, through multiple monitoring and analysis systems, the Asset Protection Department detected and verified the irregular transactions. This incident is a clear reminder that one wrong choice can undo years of effort and even end a career.

In a winning culture, honesty and integrity come first. These are also values deeply rooted in Chinese culture. T&T has zero tolerance for misconduct, policy violations, or theft. Do not take chances or cross the line. We encourage all colleagues to report improper behaviour and work together to build a fair, ethical, and trustworthy workplace.