A 15-year commitment to BC-sourced food, and what it means for you.
When we founded HOTRO.ca, we made a promise — not just to our customers, but to our community and to the land we live on. We wrote it into our mission statement from day one:
At least 75% of everything we carry must be sourced from within 100 miles of our store.
Fifteen years later, that commitment hasn't wavered. And as far as we know, we are the only company in Canada to have made — and kept — a formal pledge at this level.
We're not saying that to boast. We're saying it because we think more businesses should do the same.
Why 100 Miles? Why 75%?
The 100-mile boundary wasn't arbitrary. It represents a meaningful relationship between a business and its region — close enough that you can visit the farms, meet the farmers, and see exactly how animals are raised and how land is managed. Beyond that radius, accountability starts to blur.
The 75% threshold was chosen deliberately too. We wanted a number that required real commitment — not a token local product or two on the shelf, but a business genuinely structured around regional sourcing. It forces hard decisions. It means sometimes saying no to cheaper options. We've always believed those decisions are worth making.
What It Means for Our Products
When you order grass-fed beef, bone broth, or any protein from HOTRO.ca, you're getting something that was almost certainly raised, processed, and packed within a short drive of our store. That means:
- Full traceability — we know our producers personally
- Fresher product — less time in transit, longer life in your fridge
- Animals raised right — on pasture, without routine antibiotics or hormones
- Bones worth simmering — our broth starts with bones from animals we trust
It also means your purchase directly supports BC ranchers, processors, and farming families who are doing this the right way.
A Call to Other Businesses
Fifteen years in, we've learned that local sourcing isn't a sacrifice — it's a competitive advantage. Our customers are loyal because they trust us. That trust was built one honest product at a time.
We'd love to see other food businesses — butchers, grocers, restaurants, meal kit companies — make a similar commitment. It doesn't have to be 75% on day one. Start with 25%. Put a number in writing. Hold yourself to it. The supply chains exist. The farmers are there. What's often missing is the will to make it a non-negotiable.
Fifteen years ago, we decided it was non-negotiable. We've never looked back.
HOTRO.ca sources premium BC-raised grass-fed beef, bone broth, and ready-to-eat proteins — always with at least 75% from within 100 miles of our store. That's not a marketing claim. It's our founding mission.