October 16, 2023
Small businesses are the backbone of our communities, injecting character, innovation, and vitality into our cities and towns. Small Business Week (October 15 – 21, 2023) is a time to recognize and celebrate these local gems that contribute so much to our economy and culture.
We had a chance to sit down with five amazing local business owners and hear their thoughts, key successes, their favourite spots in Oakville and what’s up next for their businesses.
First up is local business owner Jamie Kokiw from Dietrich’s Butcher & Marketplace.
SMALL BUSINESS: DIETRICHS BUTCHER & MARKETPLACE
Co-Owner – Jamie Kokiw
Dietrich’s Butcher and Marketplace, nestled in the heart of Oakville, is a cherished gem that has been serving the community with unparalleled quality and personalized service for decades. Dietrich’s is Oakville’s go to butcher shop for fresh high-quality meats, and gourmet provisions. Co-owners Dan and Jamie Kokiw took over Dietrich’s in January 2022 and have committed to sourcing the finest, ethically raised meats from local farmers, ensuring that your dining experience is not only delicious but also sustainable. Dietrich’s is more than just a butcher shop, it’s a culinary haven for food enthusiasts. Their marketplace boasts an array of artisanal cheeses, house-made marinades and an assortment of carefully curated products that elevate every meal to a gourmet affair.
Source: Dietrichs
What’s a fun fact about your business that people might not know?
The business gets its name from the original owner’s father, who ran a meat shop at St. Lawrence Market. His name is Dieter… from that, we get “Dietrichs”.
What’s the most popular item in your store?
The most popular items are our kabobs and sausages. They’ve been a staple for over 20 years in the community.
What sets your business apart from competitors?
What sets us apart is our attention to quality, locally sourced products from our partner farms in addition to procuring specific products from local vendors. We strive to support local small businesses and Ontario overall.
Can you share some of the key milestones and successes your business has achieved?
We’d say that our key successes are just the overall growth of our business since we took over.
This year we are humbled and proud to win the Reader’s Choice Awards for Best Butcher Shop, Best Sausage and Best Frozen Food Shop. It really shows that the changes we’ve done in our short time has really resonated with the community
What or where is your favourite place in Oakville?
Well…Dietrichs of course! All jokes aside, I love the outdoor spaces in Oakville. Whether it be Gairloch Gardens, Lakeside Park or Coronation Park, there are so many great open spaces for walks, picnics or just hanging out.
What advice would you offer to aspiring entrepreneurs looking to start their own small businesses?
Get involved in the community. Sponsor a sports team or get involved with the many great organizations in our town. It helps enrich your offerings in addition to building a great network across all fronts.
How does your business contribute to the local community?
We contribute by sponsoring many of our local youth sports teams. We work with the Oakville Crusaders, Oakville Rangers U16BB, Oakville Rangers House League, Oakville Hornets; in addition, we have worked with The Salvation Army: Halton Lighthouse Emergency Shelter to provide Turkey dinners on Thanksgiving.
What makes Oakville such a great destination?
Oakville is such a great destination for many reasons.
The culinary scene is phenomenal with a myriad of tastes and dining options, you can never have a bad meal in the town. In my youth, I was involved with the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts, and we try to catch a few shows each year. It really is unique to our area
What’s next for your business?
We’re looking to cook more as we’ve had a guest Chef in our kitchen for the past month and are really inspired to provide nutritious, wholesome meals for busy families. Eventually, with the continued growth of Oakville, we want to open a second location in North Oakville to service that area better.
For those who value quality, sustainability, and an exceptional culinary experience, visit Dietrich’s today!
Address: 1260 Speers Road, Unit # 13, Oakville
Instagram: @dietrichs_meat
Website: https://dietrichs.ca/
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