Home meals made easy
WHERE SOME PEOPLE saw a big problem, Lori Vassart and Crystal Anderson saw a business opportunity. The issue: lack of time these days for busy families to sit down at home and have a meal together—and we’re not talking delivered pizza. The two Costco members run Supper Central ( www.suppercentral.ca), a meal- assembly business where customers choose fresh ingredients to create entrees, side dishes and desserts in a matter of minutes. The meals can then be cooked at home, where families can sit down, relax and … talk! “That’s one of the underlying reasons we opened the business,” says Vassart, who has three young sons. “We value a family gathering around and discussing the day, and opening communication among all family members.” The Winnipeg-based busi- ness, which was recently fea- tured on the cover of the my Costco annual catalogue, dis- tinguishes itself from fast-food operations by focusing on quality recipes and fresh ingredi- ents, many of which come from Costco. (The company also uses Costco’s credit-card pro- cessing service). Each month 12 new meals are introduced, ranging from Grilled Steak Pinwheels to Mediterranean Salmon Burgers, along with desserts and gluten-free options. For the holidays, Supper Central will be offering seasonal appetizers and a full holiday dinner spread. And in the long term, Vassart says, business expansion is a goal. “We’ve always wanted to grow,” she says. “A second location would be a dream.”—Tim Talevich
Crystal Anderson, left
Lori Vassart, right
Happinesshappens
lenges. We crossed the desert, farmlands o IN AUGUST 1998, Costco member Pamela Johnson signed up the first official member of her Secret Society of Happy People ( www.sohp.com). The society was Johnson’s response to feeling that it was only OK to talk about one’s misery, rather than one’s happiness. Through her website, Johnson encourages people to celebrate by sharing reasons for their happiness and thinking about the 31 types of happiness (such as relief, amusement and gratitude). To date the society has more than 21,000 mem- bers in more than 30 countries. One happy member is Michelle Knowles of Abbotsford, British Columbia. “One of the biggest things that this group adds to its mem- bers’ lives is the focus on positivity and on looking on the bright side of life,” says Knowles. “This is not a group that denies the presence of bad things in life. It focuses on happiness as a way to counteract a lot of the bad stuff out there.” Adds Johnson, the society’s founder, “Happiness happens, and when it does, embrace it. When unhappi- ness happens, try not to rain on anyone’s parade.” —Stephanie E. Ponder a Across India, on bikes
IAN MCCAUSLAND
Dear Editor,
Canadian cycling tour company, together with
my friend, Lee, who is also a Costco mem-
ber.;It was a tough ride. Every day for two
months we became part of chaotic traffic, with
an overwhelming number of people
and;an occasional elephant. Dust, heat,;
long hills, potholes and construction on
dirt roads presented their own daily chal-
lenges. We crossed the desert, farmlands
and flooded roads, climbed steep hills
with switchbacks, got;chased by wild dogs,
breathed smog—but we were not deterred.;
Reading about the experiences of Costco
members featured in The Costco Connection
prompts me to write to you about an experi-
ence that I think might be called unique and
worth being told.
I recently cycled across India with a
Lee, who was new to long-distance
cycling, was riding a Costco bicycle, the
C
Infinity. I am sure that she is
the only person ever to cross
H
R
I
S
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! IF YOU HAVE a note, photo or story to share about Costco or Costco members, email it to connection@costco.com with “Member Connection” in the subject line or send it to The Member Connection, The Costco Connection, 415 West Hunt Club Road, Ottawa, ON K2E 1C5. Submissions cannot be acknowledged or returned.
A
R
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India on a Costco bike.
S
CHRIS SELENZ
N
A
All things considered, we
had a good time and left India
with loads of memories to
share and cherish.;Several
people thought we were
crazy, even the officials
themselves whom we met
at the Indian consulate in
K
80 ;e Costco Connection NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2012
Lani Schultz at the Indian Ocean on the tour’s last day.
Vancouver when applying for
our visa, who told us it was
impossible to cycle across
India! But we all did it.
Tired but happy,
Lani Schultz and
Loretta (Lee) McGovern
Langley, British Columbia
