Zindagi Convenience: Bridging Cultures and Filling Grocery Gaps in Cape Breton's Indian Community

Few Indian men who recently immigrated to Canada celebrated the opening of Zindagi Convenience in Sydney on November 1 2021, coinciding with their home state Kerala's birthday. The store experienced unexpected high demand, especially during the Diwali celebration, with specialty items selling out quickly. Zindagi, meaning "life" in Hindi, offers more than Diwali items, including popular vegetables like jackfruit and banana flower, as well as unique fish such as kingfish and karimeen. The owners, who moved to Canada between 2018 and 2020, aim to address the scarcity of Indian ingredients in Cape Breton, filling a gap for the local Indian community.

Zindagi is currently the sole Indian grocery store on Cape Breton Island, offering a diverse selection of products, including rice, ayurvedic soaps, and coconut hair oils. The owners hope to cater to the needs of Indian students and residents in Cape Breton who previously had to travel to Halifax for Indian products