34 — Sunday, August 24, 1997 — North Shore News

Making dough out of rising rice sales

By Deana Lancaster

News Reporter
' deana@nsnews.com

BILL Horneil has

done alright by rice.
The owner and operator
of Sonray Sales Ltd. couldn’t
be happier with the growth
of his food distributing com-

. “ff you have two or more items

from our bar, dessert or appotize:

A meau, we will cordially invite

you and your guest i> enjoy a

; Complimentary enwee when

. 8 second envse of cqual or
greater value is purchased.

Dine in only. Net valid on

Specis! Occazions

a LIVE MEXICAN ENTERTAINMENT
RESERVATIONS RECOMMENDED AT 985-TACO
-_~.1200 Lonsdale, North Vancouver

Wiest Vancouver
1746 Masine Drive

913-0257.

pany, located at the foot of
Fell Avenue in North
Vancouver.

The booming business
had humble beginnings,
though.

After working for the
Super-Valu in Edgemont
Village, Hornell became
employed with a large food
brokerage company in 1969.

He moved to a smaller
distributor in 1973, taking
with him an account for
BeeMaid honey.

In 1977 he set up shop in
his basement — as the sole
sales agent for BeeMaid in

In the following few years
he added to his inventory
everything from blinds and
carpets, to suits and finally,
rice.

It’s the rice that really
launched the business.

Hornell negotiated to buy
the rice line from its owner,
who was to stay on for 10
years and teach him the busi-
ness.

They signed the papers on
Monday and on Wednesday
of the same week, the man
suffered a fatal heart attack.

“That was a pretty heavy
shot,” remembers Hornell.
“ft had to take it on in a
hurry.”

ee oe ee ee ee

‘Buy a Dozen ,
Bagels and get
50% off
Cream Cheese

(8 oz. cream cheese prices
starting at $2.50)

Buy one Great
' Canadian Sandwich
receive a FREE

soup or salad
(value $1.95 + up)

‘Flavours

Take it on he did.

Rice is now Sonray’s pri-
mary product imported and
exported _ internationally,
with a strong history of local
sales. So strong, in fact that
in 1994 Sonray moved out of
the basement and into the
warehouse.

The company’s best seller
is Kokuho Rose, 2 medium-
grain rice imported from
California. It was recently
ranked number three in a
market track report for B.C.

Hornell is especially
proud of the rice’s freshness
— it’s milled to order in
California and he has it
shipped to buyers in
Vancouver in less than five
days. Other strong sellers are
AAR CEE Basmati rice from
India and Golden Pacific
from Thailand.

Sonray also represents
olive oil, Tulip luncheon
meats and Nanton water, 2
sparkling water from Alberta.

Hornell ‘and staff —
which now includes son Jeff,
19 — will be handing out
samples of his lines when -
they set up at the Festival of
om September 26
to 28 at the Vancouver. Trade
and Conventien Centre...

When asked if he had any-
thing to add Jeff grinned.

“I don’t know. - How
about ‘have a rice day’?” -

BILL and Jeff Hornell a busy @ at Sonray es.

Try Gur New Dinner Menu.
Come enjoy our Hearty servings, Skookum burgers
and old fashion milk shakes made from ice cream.

Open daily ® breakfast ® lunch © dinner

Sui

nday-Thursday 8am-9pm

Friday & Saturday 8am-10pm

The Tomahawk

1550 Philip, 6. Van.