26 ~ Viednesday, December 9, 1992 — North Shore News to open second health food store Dundarave success story planning new Kitsilano outlet for Oct. 1993 THIS IS a precious business success story. By Surj Rattan News Reporter Nelson resident Russell Precious grew up in West Vancouver and had moved to Quadra Island near - Campbell River where he became involved with the food industry. He started running @ small grocery store and a fruit stand. After a while he decided he wanted to move back to the Lower Mainland and had the idea of .opening up a natural and organic food store. Precious had been involved with growing natu- ral and organic food for about 20 years. - When he moved back to the Lower Mainland, he decided to -open up his new business in the Dundarave azea uf West. Van- couver. That was seven years ago . ééIn the eariy - years I think people thought it was just a passing rena. 99 ‘— Russert Precious “and the move was the birth of the “now -highly successful: Capers, a -combination food store and _res- taurant. . : ue The business has grown every year and Precious is set to open a -second Capers outlet on West - Fourth Avenue -in Kitsilano next October. . . While his Dundarave location has proved to be a ‘success, North Shore rock star Bryan Adams is a regular customer, Precious admits he did not think West Vanconver NORTH VAN CURLING CLUB A Christmas Gift for the Kids 10 and older Kids Curling $27 Tuesday or Saturday . Register For January Mark 986-5719 Joyce 983-6417 - trends was the ideal location for the store seven years ago. ** opened it in West Vancouver because that’s where | grew up. But if we had done our homework, we would have prob- ably opened up somewhere else, like Kitsilano. I didn’t think the demographics were right in West Vancouver at the time,’ Precious. “The store we did there was a Serious natural food store.” There is no question that Capers has evolved into a serious natural food store. Today, Capers is the largest store of its kind in - Canada. Precious said peopie’s lifestyle have changed over the yeais and today people are eating more healthy foods. *There’s no question about that. The percentage cf white bread 10 or 15 years ago on store shelves was about 75% while whole wheat bread accounted for 25%. Today, that is reversed. “There's a. growing core of people who want vegetarian food and food free of preservatives. There’s no question thai it’s now a genuine trend in the food in- dustry. In the early years J think peopie thought it was just a pass- ing trend,” said Precious. When Precious first opened Capers in West Vancouver seven years ago lie employed !5 people. Today, the store has a work force of 110. . Another successful part of Capers’ ousiness are the heaith care products it sells. Store man- ager Barry Perzow said that por- tion of the store’s business has in- creased dramatically and is the fastest-growing part of Capers today. - a While Capers carries a large stock of vegetarian food products, it does carry some meat products as well. But all of the meat is organically grown. Asked what he attributes to Capers’ success, Perzow replied: “IT think it’s just being loyal and credible to our customers and to live up to our mission to only ‘carry wholesome [cod.”’ He added that the food pro- ducts Capers sells must first pass critical inspection tests. “We do a lot of carefully prepared food,’’ said Perzow. Capers’ Kitsilano location will be about 18,000 square feet and will focus on prepared and takeout food as well as health- cate products. said . ” NEWS phate Cindy Goodman CAPERS MARKETING manager Srian Burke displays some of the healthy food items offered at the West Vencouver store. . ; . co ; | Environment . Shop for products that are reusable and come with less packaging. For more information call the B.C. Recycling Hotline 732-9253 : GREATER VANCOUVER 1-800-667-4321 Boy Scouts fill your home with the Christmas Spirit. WHAT WHERE WHER WHY The Soy Scouts of Canada have in stock o fabulous selection of fresh cut and live Christmas Trees: 65% of which are canadian and 35% are imports. . Prices sange from $13 to $95. Situated at the rear of Park Reyal South behind the Brunswick Bowling Alley. Opens Saturday, November 28th to December 23rd, from 9:00 o.m. to 10:00 p.m. All proceeds go towards sending « Boy Scout te comp. The Boy Scouts of Canada at PARK R®YAL SHOP P 1 cEN TRE " located of Toytor Way ona Marine Brive . , This od wos dose by: 7. Dunuett, West Vancouver Secondary Work Experience Project.Pork Royot Shoppiag Centre Part of Your Community