Like any good food region, the Sunshine Coast's offerings extend beyond restaurant walls. Specialty food shops, from general stores to zero-waste markets, offer take-home goodies from local producers and purveyors—whether you're stocking up your home pantry or just for the weekend ahead.
Below, we've put together a list of food shops (organized by community) that carry everything from olive oil and frozen dumplings to sweet treats from around the world.
Powell River & qathet Regional District
From boat-access only general stores in the heart of Desolation Sound to a public market in Historic Townsite, the Northern Sunshine Coast has plenty of places for foodies to embrace.
Downtown Powell River is home to a number of shops and stores selling edible wares. The Nutcracker market focuses on artisanal food products—including the 20-plus local vendors they curate items from, like Alice's Fresh Pasta and Wallace's Craft Chocolate. For the home cocktail enthusiast, their line of barware includes cordials, bitters, garnishes, and even zero-proof spirits.
Family-owned butcher, The Chopping Block, has been serving the local community since 1967 and offers even more savoury selection. You can expect to find a wide range of local meats, eggs, and produce. And around the corner is a local favourite, 32 Lakes Cafe & Bakery, where you can pick up freshly roasted beans from the qathet Regional District as well as other BC and Canadian roasters.
If you’re seeking tasty treats for a picnic, head to Sunny Deli at the Townsite Public Market. Browse a wide selection of high-quality cheeses, charcuterie meats and sausages, and other pantry staples like crackers and jams. They partner with local farms like Coast Berry Company and Andtbaka Farm to bring you farm-to-fork ingredients. Afterwards, pick up a loaf of bread and some pastries at Hearth & Grain, a bakery on the lower level.
Locals know you can also find baked treats at the Tla’amin Convenience Store, located on Highway 101 just north of Powell River. Discover everything from bannock (unleavened fry bread) and flaky sausage rolls to pot pies, soups, and more. Don't forget to check out the selection of Indigenous-made and themed creations, including jewelry, Pendelton beach towels, beaded lanyards, books, and more.
Boating through Desolation Sound? A must-stop for every boater is the Refuge Cove General Store, a long-standing institution and rite of passage for mariners sailing through the area. Besides having key supplies on-hand for you to restock your vessel, such as ice, tackle and fuel, they also offer souvenirs, ice cream treats, and other groceries.
Sechelt & Pender Harbour
Sechelt offers gourmands plenty of options to shop for all occasions. Craving specialty items from across the pond? A Little Brit of Heaven offers imported British groceries and sweets. Look for items from across the UK, including Scottish shortbread, breakfast bangers, tins of Quality Street chocolates, tea, and more.
Don't be fooled by the entrance to Middle Child, a coffee shop tucked away in Elphi Cycles repair shop. This coffee counter serves up delicious coffees by local roasters including Botany Coffee, plus a selection of freshly baked baguettes and loaves by Lone Wolf. While you're there, snag yourself a coffee and a pastry from The Farm to-go. Also on Cowrie Street is Plethora Fine Foods (note: they will be located in the Gibsons Public Market in 2024). This specialty grocer stocks all-things-local, like Davis Bay Teas and Smokin' Dragon Hot Sauces, plus a range of artisanal and imported products. Down the street, swing by Tasters for cold-pressed and extra virgin olive oils and aged balsamics, perfect for dipping hunks of Lone Wolf baguettes into.
Need dinner supplies for the cabin? Round things out with stops at the Sechelt Fish Market and Noble Meats and Cheese. Pick up a tin of Northern Divine Caviar at the Sechelt Fish Market; they produce the world's first certified, organic caviar, produced right here in Sechelt. At Noble meats, they visit every farm before considering their livestock, which means you're purchasing top-notch quality meats.
North of Sechelt, check out the Oak Tree Market in Madeira Park (Pender Harbour). Locals know this unassuming general market has some of the best meat on the Coast, as well as fresh produce and bites to go.
Gibsons & Roberts Creek
Gibsons is a one-stop shop for food lovers. Shaggy Jack's Market, located in the Gibsons Public Market, offers an array of zero-waste items. You’ll find everything from nuts and seeds to locally foraged mushrooms and dried mushroom supplements. (The market's namesake, Shaggy Jack, even offers mushroom foraging tours in Gibsons and Roberts Creek.) Next door is the Fisherman's Market stall where you can purchase fresh seafood, along with pre-made items, like smoked salmon dip, candied salmon, seafood "salad", and even fish pot pies. They also stock spices, condiments, and other accoutrements to complement seafood dishes.
Sunshine Coast Olive Oil Co. in Gibsons Landing specializes in single-estate and infused extra virgin olive oils sourced transparently from around the world, along with balsamic vinegars and other olive oil products. Just a short walk away, Good Friday Gibsons is a contemporary general store, stocking charcuterie boxes and pre-made sandwiches, plus a variety of upscale candies and other goodies. And down the road is the beloved Fong's Market & Gifts, a family-owned and operated store that’s one of the best places on the Coast to stock up on Asian staples. Think pantry items like sauces and spices, frozen items like pre-made dumplings and wontons, and hard-to-find fresh ingredients like stalks of lemongrass, daikon, and dumpling wrappers of various sizes. Keep an eye out for their fresh food features, like char siu (Chinese BBQ Pork), mooncakes, and more. You'll find specialty shops in Upper Gibsons, too—pick up some crackers and cheese from Fromagerie de Baie, located in the newly-opened merchant shops at Venture Way, and stop by The Gibsons Butcher to pick up dinner supplies.
Over in Roberts Creek, The Roberts Creek General Store is a staple of the community. Located in the heart of the Creek, here you can stock up on B.C. wines plus craft beer from the Coast, salty snacks, and cool treats. Across the street, you'll find The Folly Artisan Food Shop which sells bean to bar chocolate in various forms, along with “gooey pecans,”a delicious combination of chocolate, caramel, and nuts.
