Talking T&T with Tina Lee

If you asked Tina Lee 11 years ago what she thought was in store for T&T Supermarket^®, she definitely couldn’t have predicted that it would become the retail phenomenon it has today. From Hello Kitty bathroom tissue to viral Papa Crispy Chicken, and everything in between – it really is the perfect place to indulge and activate all your senses.  

What began as a simple dream of helping families in the Asian community find the best fresh food and grocery offerings under one roof, turned into far more than the Lee family could have imagined.  

At just 34-years-old, Tina became CEO of T&T when her mother and original founder Cindy Lee passed the torch to her, heading into retirement. The matriarch’s legacy included opening two stores in Burnaby and Richmond, B.C., venturing into Alberta and Ontario, and being acquired by Loblaw Companies Limited^® in 2009, with the excitement of growing the business even further.  

After trailblazing her way through the Canadian market making one more stop in Montreal, Tina decided to bring a whole new level of flavour to the world of T&T, by taking things south of the border to Bellevue, Washington in 2024.  

This was a brave step for the business, as the United States is quite untapped by Canadian grocers. Despite the challenges faced when it came to regulatory changes, workforce policies and different suppliers, the team at T&T came in hot – exceeding expectations.  

“Expanding into the U.S. has been a dream come true,” says Tina. “What we’ve done for this community really is quite special. It’s not just another grocery store customers need to go to, it’s one they actually want to go to.”  

‘Phenomenal’, ‘cult-favourite’ and ‘unbeatable hype’ are just a few of the ways Americans have described the supermarket upon opening, and it hasn’t lost steam since. This is all thanks to T&T’s unique value proposition and the team behind it – ‘the ability to offer restaurant quality food at competitive supermarket pricing’. 

“My team and I aim for a holistic shopping experience,” says Tina. “Fully immersive with bountiful, colourful, displays and the opportunity to see, touch, smell and taste. Basically, how we’ve gathered food from the beginning of civilization. Incorporating all the senses triggers that feeling of connection and belonging. That’s what keeps customers coming back.” 

With its smashing success and ability to change the food landscape in Washington, SoCal residents should brace for impact, as T&T is headed there next with four locations on the map. But have no fear Canada – we aren’t being left behind, as we’ll see two more locations in Burnaby, B.C. and Mississauga, Ont. next year.   

And in case you’re wondering what Tina’s up to when she’s not soaring above the clouds at 35,000 feet ready to scope out her next location, you can find her playing a round of ‘Overcooked’, setting up for the ultimate spike, or having a good old fashioned dance party with her family.