Foodfare employee suspended after ‘violent confrontation’ with customer
An employee at a St. Matthews-area grocery store has been suspended and police are investigating after a confrontation with a customer over the weekend.
Angela Antoine was shopping at the Portage Avenue Foodfare on Sunday afternoon when she witnessed the altercation.
She was at the checkout when an employee accused a woman in front of her of shoplifting. He demanded to look in her bag, Antoine said, before forcibly grabbing the woman’s purse from her shoulder.
The woman told him not to touch her, and the incident escalated with the man punching the woman in the face, Antoine said.
“He got this woman on the ground and I think he struck her a few more times, but I remember when he hit her in the mouth and split her lip open, I heard it. I heard the contact to her face,” she told CTV News Winnipeg in an interview.
A woman involved in the altercation at Foodfare is pictured in the grocery store parking lot on April 28, 2024 in the aftermath of the incident. (Angela Antoine)
Other employees eventually stepped in to break up the altercation, Antoine says.
The employee accused the woman of hitting him first, but Antoine didn’t see that happen.
The woman’s young son was also with her, and got shoved into a gumball machine, Antoine says.
“It was a disgusting situation.”
Winnipeg police confirmed to CTV News Winnipeg officers were called to the grocery store Sunday for a report of an assault. No arrests have been made, and an investigation is ongoing.
Antoine says she and the woman gave statements to police, but Antoine says the woman is still deciding whether to press charges.
“She's just discouraged. She feels nothing's going to happen anyway.”
Employee suspended in wake of ‘violent confrontation’
Foodfare owner Munther Zeid said in a statement he is deeply concerned about a violent confrontation during a shoplifting incident.
“Dealing with incidents of shoplifting is a challenging and complex task. Our employees are trained to prioritize the safety of themselves and others while handling such situations,” the statement reads.
“However, we understand that the circumstances can escalate quickly, leading to unforeseen unfavorable outcomes.”
He notes the employee has been suspended pending the investigation, and says they are working with authorities on the investigation.
Zeid says the employee is from a marginalized community and has experienced many challenges in life. He believes firing them would not be the right course of action.
Foodfare owner and manager Munther Zeid is shown in a Nov. 20, 2023 image at his Portage Avenue store.
AMC cuts tied with Foodfare in wake of altercation
Antoine says the woman involved in the incident is Indigenous and a member of Norway House Cree Nation.
After Antoine’s account of the incident began circulating on social media, the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC) released a statement, noting it had terminated a business relationship with Foodfare where AMC purchased food from the grocery store to create hampers for families in its Jordan’s Principle program.
AMC Grand Chief Cathy Merrick writes in a statement violence against First Nations women and girls is a systemic issue that permeates every intersection of their lives.
“I cannot believe that in 2024, First Nation women can’t even go to the store without experiencing this level of physical aggression, particularly with a child present,” Merrick said.
“It makes you wonder why he felt so comfortable acting in such a manner with cameras recording his every move. What that tells me is that systemic discrimination and racism against First Nations women and girls is so deeply ingrained in Canada’s social fabric that people feel empowered to treat us this way.”
AMC Grand Chief Cathy Merrick is shown during an interview on April 13, 2024.
Meantime, Zeid says he is implementing additional training for employees and seeking partnerships with Indigenous organizations.
AMC confirmed they had an initial conversation with Zeid and are willing to meet to discuss how the organization can help educate Foodfare to offer cultural competency training to create safe spaces for First Nations people to shop.
“We are determined to rebuild trust, enhance our training programs, and strengthen our commitment to fostering cultural understanding and sensitivity,” Zeid said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadians feel grocery inflation getting worse, two in five boycotting Loblaw: poll
Almost two-thirds of Canadians feel that inflation at the grocery store is getting worse, a new poll suggests, even as food inflation has been steadily cooling.
Norway, Ireland and Spain say they are recognizing a Palestinian state in a historic move
Norway, Ireland and Spain said on Wednesday they are recognizing a Palestinian state, in a historic but largely symbolic move that deepens Israel’s isolation more than seven months into its grinding war against Hamas in Gaza.
NEW How to remove ticks and what to know about these bloodsuckers
Ticks are parasitic bloodsuckers, capable of spreading deadly disease, and they’re becoming increasingly common. Here’s what you need to know about them.
Montreal photographer captures dramatic Canada goose vs. fox fight on video
A Montreal photographer captured the moment a Canada goose defended itself from a fox at the Botanical Garden.
opinion Joe Biden uses bully pulpit to bully Donald Trump on debates
Donald Trump had spent weeks needling U.S. President Joe Biden for his refusal to commit to a debate. But Washington political columnist Eric Ham describes how in one fell swoop, Biden ingeniously stole the issue from the Trump campaign and made it his own.
Barbie will make dolls to honour Venus Williams, Christine Sinclair and other athletes
Barbie dolls will honour Canadian soccer star Christine Sinclair and tennis champion Venus Williams, plus seven other athletes as part of a project announced by Mattel on Wednesday.
Ontario mother loses $2,500 to text scammer pretending to be daughter
An Ontario mother lost $2,500 to a scammer pretending to be her daughter asking for help in late April.
From AI running wild to collapsing ecosystems, government report outlines future disruptions
From artificial intelligence running wild to collapsing ecosystems, a new Canadian government report outlines 35 disruptions that could rattle the country in the near future.
opinion Tom Mulcair: With Trudeau spiralling, Mark Carney waits in the wings
In his latest column for CTVNews.ca, former NDP leader Tom Mulcair argues that if there's an unofficial frontrunner in the eventual race to replace Justin Trudeau as Liberal leader, it has to be former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney.