Urban Bulk Emporium opened in March 2015 and is now one of the most frequented spots for foodstuff in Leslieville. For owner and manager Aziza Popat, bulk foods are something of a tradition. Aziza recalls her time spent at her family's bulk store in London, Ontario, when she was just nine years old: “I pretty much grew up in the back room of the store because my parents worked there day and night,” she recalls.
During this time, Aziza had the opportunity to thoroughly study and taste test all the bulk foods one could imagine. Up until college, she continued to work in the shop, learning more about the food industry firsthand. “My dad really helped me understand the business. He showed me how to manage a store and it was part of our everyday life,” she says.
It wasn’t until Aziza moved back to Toronto that she decided she wanted a business of her own, so she took up an entrepreneurship program at Ryerson University. “I knew I wanted to do something I was passionate about,” Aziza recalls. “I was always passionate about food and cooking and I knew the environment because of my past experience.” Combining her passion for food with her new training, she finally decided this was the right fit. And with her family still running three bulk shops in London, she could benefit from their advice once in a while.
