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Businesses big and small are growing in Grimsby

The town of Grimsby is one of the fastest-growing municipalities in Niagara, with the population expected to continue to increase steadily over the next decade. However, growth is more than just a number for these local businesses.

No matter how small or big these spots are, they are all focused on expanding their success in the town. In fact, growing in Grimsby means something different to each and every one of them.

Chef Nuran Acikel started off selling her products on Facebook and at local Farmers’ Markets before expanding to a storefront in February of this year.

Selling a variety of delicious goods including Turkish desserts, freshly baked bread, macarons and more, Nurish Kitchen is a hit with locals.

Since opening, the shop has continued to grow a dedicated customer base, which Acikel says is super important for the business.

“I didn’t choose Grimsby, Grimsby chose me. ”

— Chef Nuran Acikel

Chef Nuran Acikel, Nurish Kitchen

Turkish desserts and macarons are a big hit with Grimsby’s locals

Nurish is a Grimsby-favourite family owned and operated business.

The freshly-baked bread is a daily draw at Nurish.

“It is a wonderful community,” Acikel states. “I’m feeling like their family and it is a very important feeling for me.”

However, Nurish Kitchen isn’t the only one that is focused on their community.

With a vision of bringing planet-friendly living to their local communities, Mrs. Greenway has expanded to three locations since the opening of their first store in 2014.

Selling products that help the everyday consumer become more sustainable, Owner Christine Kempf believes that no change is too small.

“I always say to our customer base, if you’re doing one thing or if you’re doing 100 things, it doesn’t matter, you have to start somewhere.”

When it comes to growth, Mrs. Greenway is always helping their customers expand their education on living a low-waste lifestyle. In fact, Kempf states that educating is about 50 per cent of her job.

Mrs. Greenway owner Christine Kempf

“People are making an effort to come down here, and I want them to feel appreciated. ”

— Christine Kempf

The spot, which has lots of regulars, also has multiple new customers that will find the business while exploring the town. Mrs. Greenway will always greet them with a smile and answer any questions they may have.

Shop a variety of planet-friendly goods at Mrs Greenway

Eco-friendly refilling stations for all your home’s cleaning needs

Forty Creek’s Grimsby distillery opened in 1972

On the other hand, Forty Creek Whisky has been growing both their space and product line since 1972.

There have been multiple expansions added to the building since their opening, which has greatly increased the warehousing facilities. This has helped increase the number of cases they have sold.

When Master Blender Bill Ashburn first started in 1987, they were selling about 75,000 cases a year. Now, Forty Creek Whisky is selling just under 1 million cases.

On top of that, the local distillery is also continuing to grow their award collection. They have won Whisky Maker of the Decade from the Canadian Whisky Awards and many others.

“I think what makes this distillery special is the passion of the people, who not only work in production but work in sales, work in marketing, work in finance.” Ashburn highlights. “Everyone has a passion for the brand, and I think that’s what really makes the difference.”

Fort Creek was named the 2020 Whisky Maker of the Decade

Forty Creek was named the 2020 Whisky Maker of the Decade

Forty Creek published a variety of cocktail recipes, including the famous Forty Old Fashioned.

The Forty Old Fashioned is one of their most famous cocktails

Master Blender Bill Ashburn displays the wide variety of 40 Creek options

Master Blender Bill Ashburn displays the variety of 40 Creek options

When you look at Handling Specialty Manufacturing Ltd., they are all about BIG. The company specializes in custom-engineered material handling solutions and has tackled many notable projects, including creating automotive assembly lifts.

“Our slogan is: we build big things to help our customers build big things,” President Tom Beach shares. “We don’t build tiny. We build heavy, big, tall, strong.”

This motto has helped the company diversify and grow in multiple different sectors. Taking on a challenge, Handling Specialty Manufacturing Ltd. created and installed one of the world’s first and largest underwater stage systems for Cirque du Soleil’s Las Vegas show, “O”. This helped to kickstart their expansion into the world of entertainment.

Tom Beach, President, Handling Specialty Manufacturing Ltd.

They have also continued to grow in the aerospace, automotive, power-gen industries and more.

With more exciting projects on the way, the local business prides itself on always being able to evolve and take on new challenges to help their customers.

Customized work for all industrial needs

Custom lift for servicing forklifts

Handling Specialty is an innovator in the global material handling industry

Expansion is what VTR Feeder Solutions is focused on when it comes to growth. Being Canada’s largest parts feeding company, they work in a variety of fields including automotive and medical.

Established in 1995, they started off as a one-person company. Over the past two decades, there has been rapid growth and the business now has around 80 employees.

COO Jim Hills says, “We are an innovative company that is always on the continuous path of growth, always looking for the next segment in our market that’s going to put us ahead of the competition.”

“The object of the game is for us to grow.”

— COO Jim Hills

Jim Hills, COO, VTR Feeder Solutions

In the future, VTR Feeder Solutions will be continuing to expand their workforce and will continue to look for mechanical assemblers, electricians, designers and more.

In a town that keeps on growing, each of these businesses is finding a way to carve out its own path in the region.

While the quick expansion of Grimsby is something that could make any business feel small, places like Nurish Kitchen, Mrs. Greenway, Forty Creek Whisky, Handling Specialty Manufacturing Ltd., and VTR Feeder Solutions are thriving.

These places are focused on their own areas of growth, whether it be expanding their dedicated customer base, education, product lines, workforce or more.

And while they may be in different stages of growth, they all have one thing in common- the love they have for the town they work in and the community they are surrounded by.

Did You Know?

NRB Modular Solutions is the largest modular building solutions provider in Canada. The company has built many notable projects including a Tim Hortons, KFC, classrooms, hotels and more. One of their recently completed larger projects was affordable housing for the City of Toronto and was approximately 41,000 square feet. It took 50 truckloads to deliver the five-storey building.

— With writing and photography by Tipsy Theory

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