Sari-Sari stores are small retail outlets that can be found in almost all neighborhoods, sometimes on every street corner in the Philippines.

Lyn Burdett and her husband Dan run one right here in High River and they serve an increasing Filipino population in town and Lyn says what they offer is as diverse as their customers.

"When we started we asked the customers what they want and what they need. We of course have Filipino customers but now there are more and more customers from Thailand and Mexico."

She says now they've added Thai and Mexican sections as demand has increased for authentic traditional produce, meats, canned goods and snacks.

Lyn says one day the idea to have a "Sari Sari" store just came to her.

"We started looking around online trying to figure out what we were going to do. We started a vending machine business that didn't go well and then this store just came to my mind and we did it right away."

She says they started with only a few items but their customers came to the store with the wrappers, bottles and packaging of products they wanted so they ordered the items for them.

Sari-Sari stores are as common in the Philippines as Tim Horton's are in Canada and they too are on almost every street corner.

Lyn and Dan Burdett opened a Filipino retail outlet here in town when Dan was out of work and now with about 2-thFilipinos calling high river home business is booming.

Lyn says they carry traditional snacks, produce and meats many of which are an acquired taste.

"Filipinos love fish. They go crazy for this. It may sound a little wired but they love the insides of the fish too. We have lamb, beef, beef tongue for the Mexicans and pork is very popular too."

She says they started with only a few items but business grew by word of mouth and now they have several isles dedicated to the tastes of their customers homeland.

Photo - Jeff McLenaghan

Photo - Jeff McLenaghan

Photo - Jeff McLenaghan

Photo - Jeff McLenaghan

Photo - Jeff McLenaghan

Photo - Jeff McLenaghan