Mayrand

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For wholesale and retail food shopping, Mayrand is the best of both worlds. Since there is a wholesale division, retail shoppers have the ability to shop for every size product for their needs. The huge range of items is sitting inside a massive, but very organized, space of 80,000 sq. ft. dedicated just to food. So you could buy everything from individual packs of sugar to 40kg bags, mayonnaise jars from 4L to 16L, and many choices of gourmet pasta to supermarket brands in sizes up to huge 5kg bags.

From dairy to meat, fish, produce and dessert to imported olive oils and vinegars, salt, sugar, flour, grains and rice in all formats and sizes, it's all here, including a section where you can buy prepared meals. You can find International foods - Mexican, Asian, Latino, Indian - as well as health food (organic and gluten free) and yummy sweet candies in bulk.

DAIRY - Unusual in a warehouse supermarket is the extensive dairy and cheese department found here, where you can, at the deli and cheese counters, ask for what you want cut-to-order. Choose amongst the varieties of prosciutto from Italy and Canada or stock up with up to 2.5kg of shredded cheeses.

MEAT - Since restaurants shop here, you can buy AA, AAA and 1855 Black Angus grades (the highest quality) in contre filet to filet mignon or rib steaks. Since this is Montreal, after all, you can buy smoked meat briskets, ready in packages in many different sizes. And yes, they do carry Halal meats too.

FISH - Their fish is delivered fresh daily. There are tanks of fresh lobsters, and they will cook them for you while you are doing your shopping - just stop by the fish counter first. They sell wild fish and those mostly farmed without antibiotics. Shopping at Mayrand, your countermen are enthusiastic servers - they love what they do, and it shows. You also have the option of buying frozen fish: squid, scallops, shrimp, scampi and lobster tails.

PRODUCE - The very large fresh produce department offers quality fruits, vegetables and an extensive selection of fresh herbs. Their package quantities are very generous, with low prices. It's not like in a supermarket where it costs $1.49 for a small plastic container; instead, here you would get two huge bunches of parsley for only $.79 cents.

DESSERT - There is a bakery and they do custom cakes. Everything baked here is natural, so the cakes taste like you baked them yourself. Something you don't see in your local supermarket is their aisle of ice cream parlour necessities, from cones, toppings and sprinkles to paper wrappers.

FOOD TO GO - The new Resto Cuisine section offers you fully sous-vide vacuum sealed products - cooked naturally, with no additives. This European process (around for over 15 years) preserves both flavours and nutritional value. The meals have a 30-day shelf life, because they are pasteurized and hermetically sealed. The individual meals - lasagna, salmon, chicken, vegetarian, beef bourguignon or osso bucco, etc. are perfect for parties, restaurants, caterers, residences, daycares or camping and outfitters.

HOUSEWARES - Expect to find a large selection of housewares and kitchen tools, including high end chef's knives (Sanelli, Ran, Yaxell, Mayibi, Henckel, Victorinox). In cookware, there's a large range of prices and qualities, including Strauss in a few grades. Look for Trudeau products, bowls, bakeware (Wilton), baking and cupcake decorating items and both wooden and plastic cutting boards. Hard to find (and popular) Lodge cast iron cookware is here along with pasta makers, 18/10 stainless steel cutlery sets and even individual pieces of cutlery. There's white everyday dinnerware and all shapes of serving dishes. As well, you'll find condiment containers, salt and pepper shakers and cappuccino or espresso sets.

RESTAURANT SUPPLIES - For parties or large group events, you can buy trays, platters, fancier disposable plasticware, Dixie and Dart plastic and paper cups, variable sizes and colors of doilies, paper placemats and many sizes and shapes of packaging containers, all kinds of plastic and paper bags (even small ones for french fries), Kraft paper, plastic, wax and aluminum paper and even cake and pizza boxes. There's also some cleaning supplies like bleach, mops, dustpans and paper towels.

Mayrand is one-stop shopping for everything you need for cooking. Why run around to different shops - just come here for your kitchen needs and you will save time and money.