Rabba Story

1967

 Jack Rabba opens his first store on Toronto's Queen Street. As a new Canadian
he dedicates his time to serving his community through providing grocery and
household essentials.

1970

Jack ventures into downtown Toronto with a new Charles Street West location.
Pioneering the 24/7 concept, the store becomes a destination much like home,
where the door is always open and the welcome is heart-felt.

Jack adds six more locations, extending his reach into the lively city of
Mississauga where the new stores welcome people of all nationalities,
backgrounds, cultures, and lifestyles.

1980

Jack's efforts gain momentum and Rabba Fine Foods unveils its flagship store on
Queen's Quay, serving the people and businesses of Toronto’s busy
harbourfront.

Always stocked with household needs and groceries, Rabba stores feature wider
food selections, focusing on specific tastes in their communities. As well,
increased emphasis on fresh produce becomes a Rabba hallmark that continues
to this day.

A new administrative head office and warehouse opens its doors in Mississauga,
further elevating Rabba’s product offerings and supporting affordability for
customers.

By the end of the decade, Rabba Fine Foods operates more than ten 24-hour
locations, keeping up with the growing needs and tastes of vibrant communities
in Mississauga and Toronto.

1990

A new tagline, “Here for You”, expressed Rabba's founding values and became the heart of the Rabba ethos, as Jack forms partnerships with community service organizations such as Trillium Health Partners. Rabba Fine Foods took a giant step beyond Mississauga and Toronto when the Oakville location opened its doors. Dedication to quality and community service continued. The Greater Toronto Area was growing at an increasing rate and the population also became more cosmopolitan. Increasing cultural diversity brought growing demand for ingredients needed in preparing traditional cuisines from around the world. A second warehouse was established, supporting the Rabba commitment to understanding each community's needs while providing quality products at competitive prices.

2000

Rabba Fine Foods formed customer-focused strategic alliances with Petro-Canada and Subway. The partnership with Petro-Canada complements the Rabba Market Express concept, adding convenience and saving customers' time. The Rabba Marche brand was introduced, further highlighting market fresh produce and butcher-grade meat offerings. Rabba Kitchen revitalized its deli and ready-made meal offerings at all 25 locations. Customers looking for fresh, home-style meals knew where to go for take-out.

2010

The need for a third distribution centre emerged, strengthening the Rabba commitment to convenience, competitive pricing, and diverse product choices. Rabba entered a new brand partnership with iconic Tim Hortons, adding great coffee, grabbable food, and even more convenience to the Rabba shopping experience. Rabba Fine Foods established a fourth distribution centre, this one exclusively for fresh produce. Working directly with local farmers, the new centre brought a larger assortment of market fresh fruits and vegetables to Rabba community tables.

2020

The Rabba Roots Program reinforces community ties, giving support to not-for-
profit organizations such as Food Banks Mississauga, Trillium Health Partners, The Good Shepherd Ministries, The Grocery Foundation and many more. Assisting organizations such as these, dedicated to supporting the GTA’s most vulnerable communities, is a culmination of Jack Rabba's values that are the foundation of "Here for you".

Rabba continues fulfilling its commitment to environmental sustainability. Most
recently, more than 2500 solar panels now generate power for the distribution
centres. They produce enough electricity to reduce the centres' carbon output by 822 tons, the equivalent of planting 362,000 trees.

Today

As an independently owned family business, Rabba Fine Foods proudly serves 37 neighbourhoods in the central and western parts of the GTA. As a Toronto institution and a community cornerstone, Rabba stores remain open year-round, 24 hours a day, offering everything customers expect from their local market: fresh produce, deli counters, ready-to-eat meals, bakery, dairy, and other essentials for home, work, celebrations, or just for the enjoyment.