Supporting Local with Canela YYC
By: Brendan Klatt
Canela cinnamon rolls, a staple from over half a decade ago.
“What local means to me is knowing the family you do business with, it is building a community where we support each other and when our money changes hands it stays in the community.”
A few years ago we had a lady approach us who was working out of a rented kitchen to bake vegan treats and we took a chance on her. Today we have a large selection of her products at all of our stores, even our St. Albert one. We are the only grocery store where she sells her products.
Her name is Veronica Amaya and her company is Canela, which means ‘cinnamon’ in Spanish. Veronica started her business making cinnamon buns in her daughter's kitchen and now has a thriving cafe and bakery in Inglewood. It is a real success story of a family business and I feel Amaranth's steady supply of business has helped her achieve her dream and grow her business.
Last summer Veronica created cupcakes for my newborn daughter's 100-day old celebration- for free. My daughter's name is Poppy and she handmade poppy designs on the top of them using poppy seeds. What local means to me is knowing the family that you do business with, it is building a community where we support each other and when our money changes hands it stays in the community.
When we shop at Walmart most of that money leaves the country, when we shop locally that money stays here in Alberta and the family behind a local business gets our support.
Veronica Amaya, ready to bake!
Brendan Klatt at our Southland store.
A Word from Veronica Amaya
“Amaranth was our first wholesaler and the first partner that took a chance on us.”
Brendan was the first person who took the time to get to know our products and take a big step by introducing us into their local grocery stores here in Calgary. Over time, that partnership has grown and Amaranth is incredibly gracious to my small, local company and I. It tends to be small and local businesses that help each other out in the community, and Amaranth is one of the many key players in the city who has the drive to support its community members and cultivate growth by providing an additional vehicle for sales growth.
After almost half a decade of cultivating a symbiotic relationship, Amaranth and the family behind it, are at the heart of what we consider community to look like and feel like. It is with all the love and care that we receive from Amaranth’s employees, and Brendan and family that we are able to grow in our community and spread our mission past the vegan community.
Canela’s new logo after they re-branded.
Icing completes these vegan cinnamon rolls!
Our new signage at the flagship Arbour Lake store.
If you love Canela products, you can find fresh deliveries available at all our Amaranth stores. You should definitely visit their Inglewood Café & Bakery as well.