Hamilton keto-focused food shop closing at the end of October

Keto Kravings says is a casualty of a business environment that may be forcing smaller operators out of the specialty-grocery game.

The keto-friendly food shop on Ottawa St. N. and Barton E. has announced it will close at the end ofthis month, following a clearout sale that will run until Oct. 31 or until supplies last. That announcement comes at a time when food-price inflation is increasing at its fastest pace in Canada over 40 years, due in part to higher production costs as growers try to adapt to the effects of the climate emergency.

In a social media post, owner-operator Crystal Latendresse said there are too many external factors at play for her to keep operating the shop. Keto Kravings survived the worst stages of COVID-19 by Latendresse offering free food delivery and doing the drop-offs herself.

“The current economy is not on our side,” Keto Kravings wrote on Instagram. “Since spring, we have been struggling with rising shipping costs, increased product prices, a sinking US/CAD Dollar exchange; and more recently, severe supply chain issues.

“Big-box stores are carrying more and more low carb foods at prices I can’t even dream to compete with.

“… It truly breaks my heart to make this announcement, and I hope you all understand,” Latendresse added. “It was not an easy decision. But as I’m writing this, you should know that all options have been explored, and the numbers just don’t support the business anymore.”

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Food price inflation has been higher than the overall rate for 10 months in a row, according to Statistics Canada. Last month, it had an 11.4-per-cent increase. Canadians have not seen such a large increase in their grocery bills since August 1981.

The overall inflation rate in September was 6.9 per cent, which marked the third consecutive month of decline.

The site healthline.com describes the ketogentic diet as “a very low carb, high fat diet that … involves drastically reducing carbohydrate intake and replacing it with fat. This reduction in carbs puts your body into a metabolic state called ketosis,” which makes the body “incredibly efficient at burning fat for energy.”