Jim Ramsay of Arctic Connection was not overly surprised when his stores didn't receive as much of the commercial windfall some retailers did from the Jordan's Principle program and, for the most part, he's OK with that.
He expected the lion's share of the money to be spent at the Northern store, Co-op and Eskimo Point Lumber Supply, saying that the main difference is that his outlets are convenience stores, not full grocery stores like his competitors.
He said his stores simply can't offer the selection the others can, so he truly understands why most people went with one of the other three.
“We can't be everything to everybody,” said Ramsay. “We do what we do and there's a lot of diversity with our products.”
Ramsay also doesn't have a lot of time for those who think most of the local stores raised their prices when the Jordan Principle money began to flow.
He said he views the program as being totally awesome and everyone should remember this is all about the kids.
“It never once crossed my mind to deviate from any of my set prices and try to take advantage of the money Jordan's Principle brought to Arviat and Rankin," he said. “Here's an opportunity to feed the kids and really help them out. There's no excuses. You can't buy junk food. You can't buy chocolate. You have to buy healthy food and diapers and stuff. It's helping out immensely. It's just bonus, bonus, bonus.
“You could really see the program growing over the past couple of years.”
Ramsay said since the program's launch, everybody seems to be eating much healthier.
He said more kids will be going to school with the support of this program and, with them being fed well, that will hopefully help enable them to learn better.
“It all comes down to the kids and the benefits they're receiving from this program. That's what it's all about. I would give the program a strong nine out of 10 since it began.
“Anything free to help the kids is awesome. Everybody should just be happy about this wonderful program. We haven't raised any prices at our stores because of the Jordan Principle money and that's 100 per cent fact. And that's in both Arviat and Rankin.”
