Passion, spice and everything nice

As far back as Randy Kangal can remember, two of the most important things in his life have been people and food. When his mother opened a family-run restaurant specializing in Caribbean cuisine in 1997, he learned a lot about traditions and ancient recipes. Having a long history in the restaurant and food service industry, eventually inspired him to embark on his own journey in 2011.  

The ‘Randy’s Roti’ brand started as a food truck in the city of Toronto, Ont. “Ethnic foods were not as popular then as they are today,” says Randy. “I understood the importance of being able to reach people throughout the community, so I wanted to be mobile and make our offerings as accessible as possible”.   

Randy rode the wheels of success serving from his truck for the next six years; which allowed him to open his own restaurant in the city, ‘Randy’s Roti’ in 2017. The spot quickly gained momentum, being known as one of the most notable places to get your ‘West Indian food fix’ in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).   

Unfortunately, things changed drastically when the COVID-19 pandemic took the world by storm in 2020. This was eye opening for Randy and he knew he needed to do something different for his business to survive. “I spent more time than usual in the grocery store during the pandemic,” says Randy. “I would often think to myself; if I could walk in and find my offerings, that would truly put a smile on my face.”   

An opportunity presented itself through Loblaw Companies’ partnership with the Black Business and Professional Association (BBPA); a non-profit, charitable organization that addresses equity and opportunity for the Black community in business, employment, education and economic development. Randy met senior procurement director for Loblaw Companies, Christine Skara. “Randy did a great job pitching his product, right down to the packaging concepts” says Christine. “I immediately asked for samples, knowing this was a partnership I wanted the business to explore.”  

From there, Randy was invited to the Loblaw Companies head office in Brampton, Ont. for an ‘eat together’ session, where he prepared his meals for colleagues to sample. “A lot of great ideas came out of this,” says Christine. “The food was absolutely delicious and people wanted these dishes as packaged meals, so they could bring the experience home.”  

It was a moment that Randy will never forget, as it was his stepping-stone into the world of product development and to becoming part of the Loblaw Small Supplier Program. “Being included in this program has been nothing but comforting,” says Randy. “The team has been super supportive and helpful, allowing me to bring my vision to life.” 

You can expect to see Randy’s turning up the heat this holiday season, with some exciting new product launches in-store.   

Randy’s ready to eat meals are available in our discount division No Frills locations throughout the province of Ontario.