Farm Boy Inc. operates 51 locations across Ontario as a specialty food retailer built on fresh produce, butcher-quality meats, artisan cheeses, and chef-prepared foods. Founded in 1981 as a 300-square-foot produce store in Cornwall, the company has grown to employ between 1,001 and 5,000 team members. Empire Company Limited acquired Farm Boy in 2018, though the business continues to operate under its independent brand identity.
The company's product range extends beyond fresh offerings to include hundreds of private-label items formulated with what the company describes as real ingredients and bold flavors. A significant portion of these products are manufactured in Ontario, reflecting the company's stated commitment to local sourcing. Farm Boy positions grocery shopping as an experience centred on personal interaction; the chain does not operate self-checkout systems.
Farm Boy's operational approach emphasises customer service and the quality of its sourced goods. The retailer sources from local suppliers and producers, with hundreds of products made within the province. The company's workforce is described as sharing a focus on exceptional food and customer engagement, maintaining this customer-centric model as part of its broader retail strategy across Ontario.
