No Frills partnership a big boost to London Ukrainian business owners in exile
CBC
As it is for any Ukrainian living in exile due to the Russian invasion, these aren't easy days for Anatolii and Liudmyla Potomkin.
The couple have three young children, including a newborn, and a bustling business called WOW Pierogies, which sells home-made perogies, cabbage rolls and crepes from their storefront on Hyde Park Road.
"We wanted to bring some Ukrainian tradition into Canada," said Anatolii about this business.
The roots of the business stretch back to the family's home city of Kyiv, where Liudmyla's grandmother taught her traditional recipes that have been passed down through multiple generations.
"We had a wonderful café in Kyiv where we worked as a family," said Liudmyla.
That all changed of course when Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. The Potomkins, who had one child at the time, were forced to flee. They left behind not only their business but also their extended families.
"When the war broke out we lost everything in one day," said Liudmyla. "We decided to move to Canada, where we continue our family business."
The business started with a storefront in Strathroy before moving to the Hyde Park Road location last year.
The business is doing well but their their situation became further complicated when Donald Trump returned to the White House in January.
Trump has appeared to be more supportive of Russian President Vladimir Putin than of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy
Trump and Vice-President JD Vance last week shouted down Ukrainian President Zelenskyy in front of news cameras in the Oval Office. This week Trump has threatened to cut of military support for Ukraine. This is all unfolding as U.S. tariff threats continue to roil the Canadian economy and undo years of friendship and business partnerships with the U.S.
Anatolii Potomkin admits it's not an easy time, but said Ukrainians remain resilient.
"It's bad news for Canada and for Ukraine," he said of the current political climate. "It's not necessary right now to have an economic war when we have war right now in Ukraine."
Amid all these challenges the Potomkins got some good business news this week when the owners of the No Frills grocery store at 599 Fanshawe Park Rd. agreed to carry products from Wow Pierogies in their store.
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