Josh Penner’s father, Darrell, knew the name of every one of his customers when he ran the original Meridian Meats & Seafood in Port Coquitlam. To this day, the staff still strives to give each customer the same level of attention when they shop at the Maple Ridge store, as well as at the other locations. “What we want is to give our customers a really good experience when they shop here,” says Josh, president of the company, adding that it’s all about the relationship with the customer.
Meridian Meats & Seafood has kept its old-school values of excellent customer service, but has applied them in a new style of store — customers these days like to eat local, natural products, and that’s what is on offer at the downtown Maple Ridge store. It’s a family business and is co-owned and run by two brothers and a brother-in-law. Since its humble beginnings of one store in Port Coquitlam, the company has expanded to six locations in the Lower Mainland, including stalls at two farmers markets. The extended family, though, have all made their home in Maple Ridge and the head office is part of that location.
