By Maryanne Firth, The Tribune; Wednesday, December 4, 2013 4:55:10 EST PM
Peach salsa is a hot-ticket item at the temporary Niagara Presents storefront at Rose City Plaza, which supports services provided by Niagara Women's Enterprise Centre. Pictured is program manager Brenda Martin. (MARYANNE FIRTH/Tribune Staff).
WELLAND - Niagara Presents is ready to spread Christmas cheer &mdash literally.
The business, owned by Niagara Women's Enterprise Centre and parent non-profit organization Niagara Peninsula Homes, has opened a temporary Welland storefront during December to sell locally-produced jams, jellies and other preserves.
Niagara Presents was created 17 years ago to complement the NWEC's Recipe for Success program, which taught local women how to start their own preserves business.
It has since evolved into a commercial kitchen that not only creates preserves, but also offers recipe formation, co-packing and private labelling.
The jams, jellies and other goodies, made by students in the NWEC's programs, are available year-round at the Niagara Presents retail store on Mountainview Rd. in Beamsville, but to make them more accessible to shoppers, a store front was opened at Rose City Plaza in Welland on Nov. 25.
Proceeds from the sale of the products go toward expanding programs and services offered by the NWEC.
The enterprise centre offers free hospitality, retail and office administration training programs, among others, as well as co-operative work placements.
The Niagara Presents profits help the organization to provide additional supports for local women, including counselling, scholarships and computers for training programs.
The Ontario Women's Directorate is the core funder for the NWEC and its programs, though funding is also received from United Way of South Niagara, Niagara Prosperity Initiative and Employment Ontario.
Program manager Brenda Martin estimates the NWEC serves more than 100 Niagara women each year, many of whom have been victims of domestic violence and are seeking financial independence.
Having the Welland storefront, which will only be open for the next few weeks, is an opportunity to not only promote the Niagara Present products, but to also raise awareness of the NWEC, its programs and its efforts, Martin said.
“We've had such a great response. People love the products and when they find out they're supporting a charity, that's a bonus,” she said.
The store sells sweet and savoury preserves, jams, salsas, wine jelly and fruit sauces.
“We specialize in gourmet food production,” Martin said.
“We have a thriving gift basket business. We ship to all over Canada.”
Preserves have long been popular during the Christmas season, she said, and make great hostess gifts for coming holiday parties. Shoppers are able to have custom baskets made in store.
As the storefront itself is also used for hands-on training in the retail program, the baskets are made on site.
The intent going forward is to open the store for the holidays on an annual basis, Martin said.
The Tribune's Biz Buzz column appears every Thursday. If you have a business tip, send it to maryanne.firth@sunmedia.ca or call 905-732-2414 ext. 267.
Niagara Presents, specializing in jams, jellies and other preserves, Rose City Plaza, Ontario Rd., Welland. Temporary store for the holidays that sells Niagara-made preserves and supports Niagara Women's Enterprise Centre. Open until Dec. 21, or until stock runs out.