Great Canadian Bagel says chain falls within scope of Saskatoon Farmers' Market theme despite criticism

Not everyone is spreading the love for The Great Canadian Bagel, a franchise that recently took root at the Saskatoon Farmers' Market.

Market customers are complaining on Facebook about the chain's new location. It opened at the market — which is primarily filled with local growers and artisans — about three weeks ago.

"What the heck is a franchise doing at the Farmers' Market? I thought I had arrived at the mall," wrote Jocelyn Young.

"Disappointing," added Dean Joey Streelasky.

'Basically a compromise'

Adithya Ramachandran, the president of the market's board of directors and a vendor himself, said the comments do concern him, but that the board's decision to endorse the bagel chain's arrival was "basically a compromise."

"It's a small Canadian franchise, locally owned and operated," he said.

"And we had some difficulty filling that spot. We need someone in there who's reliable with payments and will keep the building viable, help keep it animated six days a week."

Michelle Zimmer, who recently pulled her booth, Wild Serendipity Foods, from the market, hears that concern, but nevertheless says the market's newest member feels out of place.

"I was actually pleased that there was a bit of a negative reaction," she wrote via email. "It is the presence of a chain that flies in the face of a true Farmers' Market and what that stands for."  

"The original vision for that market and building was not to have food chains present," she added. 

1 of 24 locations

Vaughan, Ont.-based Great Canadian Bagel Ltd. boasts 23 franchise locations in Canada, according to its website, plus the new spot at the market.

That location and two others in Saskatoon are owned by franchisee Heather Auchstaetter and her husband, Mike.

Ed Kwiatkowski, president of Great Canadian Bagel, said in an emailed statement that the Auchstaetters are hardworking parents that have been part of the Saskatoon community all of their lives.

"Every morning, the team members mix fresh dough to make our signature bagels from scratch using wheat from local Saskatoon farms, milled by Ardent Mills in Saskatoon and baked fresh all day long in our Millar Road bakery. The team is also busy making over a dozen varieties of fresh dairy toppings using Lactantia brand cream cheese mixed on site with fresh herbs, spices and locally grown vegetables," the statement said, adding the signature menu items are made within five kilometres of the farmers' market.

"I believe our fresh baked bagels and signature cream cheese fall within the scope of the 'make it and bake it' theme of the farmers' market building, we are pleased to be part of this vibrant community and have received great support from our customers living in Saskatoon and the surrounding communities over the past two decades."

'I have no problem'

"I kinda like it," said R.J. Nichol, who mans the Grandora Gardens vendor booth at the market.

"I've had friends work for The Great Canadian Bagel before and frankly they make their own bagels and they make them from scratch. So I have no problem."

Ditto Kalli Youngstrom, the CEO and "mayo master" (per her business card) of Kind Condiments, which sells preservative-free condiments that might even be spread of bagels, she said.

"If it's bringing people in the door, I think that's the most important [thing]," she said of The Great Canadian Bagel.

Market tenants like the bagel shop — plus older tenants like Riverbend Plantation and La Taqueria Mexicana — don't have to hew to the same "you make it, bake it, grow it" rules as vendors, said Ramachandran.

"Part of the reaction, too, stems from the fact that most of the public is not aware" of the difference, granted Zimmer. 

The market board's tenant committee reviews a potential tenant's credit history and business plan before recommending to the board whether the tenant should be allowed in the market.

But the City of Saskatoon, which owns the market building, "has to sign off on it," said Ramachandran.

"The city has never really challenged us on the tenants we bring. But they can, in theory. But in practice, that has never happened as far as I know."

'Case by case decisions'

Not all the online feedback has been bad. Charity Livingstone's reaction was uncomplicated.

"Who doesn't like delicious bagels?!" she wrote.

But given the pushback from some, what kind of franchise wouldn't make the cut for the board?

"That's a good question," said Ramachandran. "The board makes case by case decisions. They don't really have a policy on that."