Hasty Market

Hasty Market is a Canadian convenience and food store chain that traces its origins to a single store opened in Hamilton, Ontario in 1981 by founder Joe Farah. Farah set out to build a convenience brand that genuinely served the needs of local communities, and that neighborhood-focused philosophy remains central to the company's identity today. The chain describes itself as "More Than a Convenience Store," positioning its outlets as community cornerstones rather than purely transactional retail points. Over the decades the business expanded from its Hamilton roots into a multi-banner network. Today Hasty Market reports 130 locations across its family of banners, which includes the flagship Hasty Market banner, Mini-A-Mart, and The Market On. The company operates primarily through franchise and license partners, who run individual stores and are supported by a corporate franchising team. Hasty Market presents itself as a proudly Canadian-owned company and actively recruits new franchisees through its corporate office. The product and service mix is broad for a convenience format. Stores carry groceries, fresh produce, dairy, snacks, soft drinks, bakery items, frozen foods and everyday household goods, alongside ready-to-eat offerings such as salads to go, sandwiches and subs, hot food, freshly brewed coffee, smoothies and shawarma. Many locations also provide beer and wine, and a range of services including lottery, gift cards, ABMs (automated banking machines), Bitcoin machines and Western Union money transfer. The company notes that availability varies by location and that not every store carries every offering. Hasty Market emphasizes 24-hour operation at many sites and promotes specials, everyday deals and seasonal offerings through its website and newsletter. Its franchise model, community orientation and diversified in-store services distinguish it from single-format convenience operators. The brand remains active in the Canadian convenience retail sector, with its corporate office handling franchising inquiries and partner relationships.

Hasty Market's history begins in 1981, when founder Joe Farah opened the first store in Hamilton, Ontario. Farah's stated goal was to create a convenience brand that truly served the needs of local communities, and the company has consistently framed its stores as neighborhood cornerstones rather than anonymous retail outlets. That founding store established the template for what would become a multi-banner Canadian convenience and food store operation. From its Hamilton base, the business grew over the following decades into a network of stores operating under several banners. The company now describes a family of banners comprising Hasty Market, Mini-A-Mart and The Market On, with a combined footprint of 130 locations. Growth has been driven largely by a franchise and license model: independent partners operate individual stores while the corporate office provides franchising support, brand standards and recruitment. The company maintains a corporate office and a franchising team that handles inquiries from prospective franchisees. The product and service range expanded well beyond the traditional convenience-store assortment. Alongside groceries, produce, dairy, snacks and soft drinks, Hasty Market stores offer bakery items, frozen foods, household goods and a substantial fresh-food program including salads to go, sandwiches and subs, hot food, freshly brewed coffee, smoothies and shawarma. Many locations also sell beer and wine. On the services side, stores provide lottery, gift cards, ABMs, Bitcoin machines and Western Union money transfer, and many operate 24 hours a day. The company notes that availability varies by location. Hasty Market presents itself as a proudly Canadian-owned company committed to supporting and strengthening the communities it serves. Its marketing emphasizes the diversity of its stores and their local communities, and it promotes specials, everyday deals and seasonal offerings through its website and a customer newsletter. The brand continues to recruit franchise partners as it operates across its three banners in Canada.

• 1981

  Founder Joe Farah opens the first Hasty Market store in Hamilton, Ontario.

• Hasty Market expands to 130 locations across its family of banners, including Hasty Market, Mini-A-Mart and The Market On.

Neighborhood-focused Canadian convenience and food store chain offering everyday essentials, fresh food and in-store services through franchise and license partners.

• Groceries and fresh produce

  Everyday grocery items and fresh produce sold across Hasty Market locations.

• Ready-to-eat food

  Salads to go, sandwiches and subs, hot food, freshly brewed coffee, smoothies and shawarma.

• Bakery and frozen foods

  Bakery items and frozen foods available at participating stores.

• Beer and wine

  Alcoholic beverages offered at many Hasty Market locations.

• In-store services

  Lottery, gift cards, ABMs, Bitcoin machines and Western Union money transfer.

1. 1More Than A Convenience Store | Hasty Markethastymarketcorp.com
2. 2Our Products And Services | Hasty Markethastymarketcorp.com
3. 3About Us | Canadian Convenience Store | Hasty Markethastymarketcorp.com
4. 4Reach Out To Our Corporate Office | Hasty Markethastymarketcorp.com
5. 5Hasty Marketwikidata.org