Loyal customers 'pretty devastated' locally sourced grocer closing

Loyal customers paid their final respects along with their final purchases Saturday to a New Brunswick company that distributed and sold local food.

And after struggling financially, Real Food Connections abruptly closed its locations in Fredericton and Saint John late last month.

On Saturday, customers flocked to the flagship store in Fredericton one last time for a liquidation sale.

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Lorry Hunt said she was so upset by the closure, she wrote company founder Levi Lawrence to to offer condolences.

"I wrote him an email and I apologized, because I felt that I didn't support him enough," she said.

This is as good as it gets, so I'm pretty devastated. Racel Ramey

"This meant a lot, I shopped here every week and you know, now people don't have it. And people that want to eat healthy, well where are we to go? And help locally. That's the big thing, is helping your local farmers."

Rachel Ramey said as a single mom, she found the pre-made food convenient.

"This is as good as it gets, so I'm pretty devastated," she said. "I spent most of my grocery money here."

For more than six years, Real Food Connections sold locally sourced food. It was popular among vendors and consumers.

Many were shocked when it suddenly closed at the end of November. Its suppliers were able to pick up their remaining products, while the rest were sold at discounted prices.

"It's really such a shame to see it go," said Susan Kingdon. "We definitely wanted to go here the last time it was open and try and get as many preserves and vegetables, meat, anything."