The curtain falls on a half-century health food institution this month as Kardish Health Food Centre prepares to shutter all seven of its Ottawa locations. For many locals, these stores weren’t just places to grab vitamins or organic snacks—they were community fixtures where staff knew your name and your supplement regimen.
Walking through the Glebe location last week, the shelves already looked sparse. Yellow “Everything Must Go” signs hung throughout the store, with discounts reaching 50% on remaining inventory. A staff member who’s worked there for over a decade fought back tears while helping a regular customer find alternatives for their go-to products.
“We’ve been serving the Ottawa community for more than 50 years,” reads a statement on Kardish’s website, confirming the imminent closure. “Our team has always been dedicated to helping our customers achieve their health and wellness goals.”
The family-owned business, founded in 1979, grew into a respected name in Ottawa’s natural health landscape. Its locations in Barrhaven, Kanata, Merivale, OrlĂ©ans, and other neighborhoods became trusted resources for those seeking natural remedies, specialty foods, and wellness advice.
Industry pressures tell a larger story beyond this local closure. The health and wellness retail sector has faced mounting challenges from multiple directions. Online giants like Amazon and specialty e-commerce platforms have captured significant market share, offering convenience and often lower prices than brick-and-mortar operations.
“The economics of specialty retail have fundamentally changed,” explains Marvin Ryder, a business professor at McMaster University. “Consumers expect both deep product knowledge and Amazon-level pricing—a nearly impossible combination for independent retailers with physical locations.”
The pandemic accelerated these trends. While health products initially saw a surge in demand, the lasting effect was a permanent shift toward online shopping habits. Statistics Canada data shows e-commerce sales in health and personal care stores grew by 42% between 2019 and 2022, while foot traffic in physical locations has yet to fully recover.
For specialty retailers like Kardish, inventory management presents another significant challenge. “These stores typically carry thousands of SKUs with varying shelf lives,” notes retail analyst David Ian Gray. “Without the scale of national chains, it’s increasingly difficult to maintain margins while offering the selection customers expect.”
The closure impact extends beyond shoppers. Kardish employed dozens of staff across its locations, many with specialized knowledge in nutrition and natural health. These employees often built long-term relationships with regular customers, providing personalized wellness advice that online algorithms can’t match.
One customer at the Westgate Shopping Centre location shared how a Kardish employee had helped her mother navigate supplement options during cancer treatment. “The staff knew their products inside out. They’d take time to research interactions and recommend things specifically for you,” she said while filling her basket with discounted items.
The company hasn’t publicly specified how many employees will be affected by the closures or provided an exact final day of operations, though signs suggest doors will close permanently by month’s end.
For Ottawa residents with dietary restrictions or specific health concerns, Kardish’s departure leaves a gap. The stores carried specialized products for gluten-free, vegan, and other dietary needs that aren’t always available in conventional supermarkets.
The health food landscape isn’t completely barren, however. National chains like Nutrition House and Healthy Planet maintain Ottawa locations, while smaller independent shops like Natural Food Pantry continue to operate. But the personal touch and community presence built over 50 years isn’t easily replaced.
This closure reflects broader retail trends across Canada. The Canadian Federation of Independent Business reports that small retailers face unprecedented pressures from rising commercial rents, increased operating costs, and the dominance of e-commerce platforms.
Customers seeking Kardish products in the coming weeks can still visit the stores to take advantage of liquidation sales, though selection will continue to diminish. The company’s website remains operational but now features closure notices rather than the usual health articles and product highlights.
As Ottawa says goodbye to this long-standing health food institution, it marks more than just the end of a business—it’s the conclusion of a wellness era that began when natural health products were considered fringe rather than mainstream. The knowledge, service, and community focus that defined Kardish for five decades serve as a reminder of what local retail can offer beyond just products on shelves.
For many customers making final visits to these familiar stores, it’s not just about stocking up on supplements or natural foods—it’s about acknowledging the end of a trusted relationship that, for some, lasted generations.
