By Antoine

	Ken behind the cash at the first all-vegan store in Toronto.

Panacea is a new grocery store that has recently opened in Toronto. It is conveniently located just west of Bloor and Bathurst across from Honest Ed’s at 588 Bloor Street West. It is near Bathurst subway station (in fact the Markham exit is right beside the store). See listing and map on our Annex page.

Panacea is vegan owned and operated.

As an enlightened consumer I can choose to buy sustainable, compassionate and socially responsible products and I can also choose to buy these products in a store that embodies these ethics. If I buy in a large chain store, I may be driving up the demand for sustainable products, but giving my money to a big chain. If I buy from a health food store, these stores also sell lots of meat and other unsustainable products.

Panacea on the other hand, sells only vegan products in-line with social justice, like direct fair-trade (not just fairly traded but directly to the farm), Freeset bags (bags made sustainably in India to give a living wage to women who used to be in the sex trade), plush toys to raise money to protect ourang-outangs, and so much more.

Panacea is not a corporation it is a guy, Ken Bontius, and with his profits he will turn around and buy more of these vegan, social justice and sustainable products. In comparison, other stores may spend their profits on more meat, corporate goods, or even a condo or a yacht for the owner.

Panacea is the real deal. The entire cycle from farming to the final sale is sustainable and goes back to a small local business that in turn helps the local economy. In addition to an extensive line of vegan groceries, Panacea has a number of products from local veg artists and craftspeople, from jewellery, to bags, to books and paintings and chocolate truffles as well as donating food to the Toronto Vegetarian Food Bank.

Continue reading for the other two reasons I shop here: convenience and buying power.

Convenience

Every time I speak to someone about being more environmental I often get the response that it is “too difficult” for them to make changes in their lifestyle. I show them how the very small inconveniences are worth it for the sake of their health, and for their commitment to future generations.

And now I am forced to remind myself! I don’t live around the corner from Panacea, it’s two streetcar rides away and it is much more convenient for me to just go to my local Price Choppers or the health food store and grocers in my neighbourhood. But 20 years ago I would have to drive hours just to buy tofu and fairly traded chocolate didn’t even exist in stores! I would have to know people who sew in order to buy fairly traded clothing.

Today fair trade, sustainable and even vegan products are mainstream. But I can easily do more. I can choose where I buy my fairly traded and organic products. It may be a bit out of my way but it is worth it to stimulate a more sustainable economy.

And how inconsistent would it be for me to buy elsewhere simply because it is more convenient?

Buying power

We have all heard the scenario about buying an organic product from a large mostly non-organic company rather than from the small 100% organic company. Buying from the larger company sends a message and will eventually make them realize the value of organic products. But by that same logic if we all bought exclusively from the small 100% organic company and the large company made NO money that would send an even stronger message, no?

So while buying organic and vegan products at No Frills and Metro sends a message, buying exclusively from a store that stands for veganism, social justice, organic and fair trade sends an even stronger message. Plus it helps only the “good guys”, rather than trying to reform the not-so good.

As for health food stores, they are not necessarily concerned with anything more than having a successful business. Which is why ALL health food stores sell a huge amount of (unhealthy) protein products, enhancement products, supplements and various dubious para-holistic (high profit specialty) products and high mark-up items. They “play the game” just like large chains, of sales items to bring customers in, and then marking up prices to nickel and dime you; they gouge prices on high ticket items in order to make the highest possible profits.

These are people who for the most part are making money FROM the social and environmental justice beliefs that people have. Ken on the other hand is involved in social and environmental justice, believes in sustainability and his profits will help him support that cause even more. In fact it is these strongly held beliefs that motivated him to open Panacea to begin with.

And these beliefs that drive him to pass the savings on to the consumer (which means lower prices!) and to constantly use his profits to support as many sustainable businesses as possible (which mean more products!)

What I do

So that is why I buy everything that I can at Panacea and the inventory is growing every week! PLUS the prices at Panacea are very competitive and it is often cheaper there as well.

I make a list of what I need and buy everything that I can find at Panacea and the rest elsewhere. And as for the rest, every time I go, I tell Ken or Pam about all the products that I am buying elsewhere, and in most cases they can get that product in within the week!

Soon I will be able to buy ALL my groceries at Panacea, and how convenient would that be?

Which store succeeds and which fails is after all up to the consumers. And I want to send a message that I prefer to support small vegan owned and operated businesses that are genuinely concerned and INVOLVED in social justice, sustainability and animal rights.

I hope to see you in the aisles.