London Inc. Weekly 05 • 10 • 2019
2cg Inc. acquired by Kitchener-based AET Group Inc.
LONDON-BASED 2CG Inc. has been acquired by Kitchener’s AET Group Inc.
A boutique environmental consultancy firm, 2cg is well known across Canada for its specialized expertise in the management of food and organic wastes and has provided extensive guidance to both the public and private sectors. 2cg’s areas of expertise and service delivery include primary data collection (waste audit studies, set-out studies, surveys, etc.), data analysis, waste management planning, organic waste management and food waste measurement and reduction. 2cg works across Canada, in Europe and South America.
“AET’s service delivery philosophy of high-quality data collection and reporting aligns very well with 2cg’s”, says Dr. Paul van der Werf, president of 2cg. “We view our acquisition by AET as a natural fit and a great opportunity to become the North American leader in our field.”
AET is a multi-disciplinary environmental consulting, auditing and scientific services company providing professional services to the built and natural environments in a variety of core service areas. The firm has completed over 1,000 projects completed across North America.
“2cg’s team of experts in waste management is a perfect complement to AET’s Waste Team,” said Scott Freiburger, AET president and CEO. “This acquisition will strengthen AET’s position in the waste auditing and consulting market, where it is fast becoming one of the top companies in Canada.” 
Instacart and M&M Food Market launch London trial
INSTACART, A NORTH American leader in online groceries, has announced the launch of a new partnership with M&M Food Market, adding same-day delivery services from nearly 20 stores with a pilot across London and Calgary and London.
“We’re proud to partner with M&M Food Market to bring a new way to have easy-to-prepare and ready-made meals delivered to customers’ doors in as fast as an hour,” said Sarah Mastrorocco, vice president of business development for Instacart.
“M&M Food Market has changed for the better and delivery is yet another great example of forward-thinking and living up to our customers’ expectations,” added Andy O’Brien, CEO of M&M Food Market. “For nearly 40 years, we’ve helped Canadians put delicious, restaurant quality meals on the table and we’re very excited to be making our shopping experience even more convenient.”
M&M Food Market customers in London can begin shopping by going online or opening the Instacart app on their mobile device. From there, customers select their store and can begin adding products to their online grocery cart. An Instacart personal shopper will pick, pack and deliver the order within the customer’s designated time frame—in as fast as one hour or up to five days in advance.
For orders of $35 or more, the delivery fee is $3.99. With an Instacart Express membership for $9.99 a month or an annual fee of $99, customers get unlimited, free delivery on all orders over $35.
Instacart and M&M Food Market expect to expand the partnership beyond London and Calgary in the coming months and through the end of 2019.
Instacart is a North American leader in online groceries and one of the fastest growing companies in e-commerce. The company’s same-day delivery and pickup service bring essentials and groceries to consumers in the U.S. and Canada in as fast as an hour. Instacart has partnered with the most popular national and regional retailers such as Costco, CVS, Kroger, Loblaw, Publix and Sam’s Club among others.
LDI backs new provincial housing supply plan
THE LONDON DEVELOPMENT Institute (LDI), a membership-based organization representing the local real estate development industry, has thrown its support behind the provincial government’s action plan to address the barriers to new home ownership and rental housing.
Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Steve Clark announced More Homes More Choice: Ontario’s Housing Supply Action Plan on Thursday, May 2. The five-point plan calls for improving the timing of the approval process, making costs more predictable, encouraging the building of different types of housing, enhancing the industry’s ability to build rental housing and the promotion of innovation and creativity in the new home deign.
In a released statement, the LDI said the changes, when implemented, will allow city council to begin to address the need to improve efficiencies and regulatory processes highlighted in their recently approved Strategic Plan for the City. Proposed changes to the Planning Act and the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal will enable the London development and building industry to provide housing solutions in London in a faster and more predictable manner. These changes will encourage the development and building all forms of housing including much needed rental units in London.
“Affordability of housing in London has been an emerging issue for a number of years,” said Jamie Crich, chairman of LDI, in the statement. “The changes announced by the Government of Ontario will allow our industry to fully participate in building housing, of all forms, that the City of London needs now and in the future.”
Libro Credit Union celebrates three new awards
LIBRO CREDIT UNION has added three new awards to its trophy cabinet.
Libro was presented with the National Credit Union Learning Excellence Award at the Canadian Credit Union Association (CCUA) annual conference in Winnipeg this week, recognizing Libro’s efforts to educate staff in lean principles, which was foundational for the organization’s lean transformation.
The Learning Excellence Award follows two Achievement In Marketing Excellence Awards presented at the same conference—awards for Brand and Brand-building and for Internal Marketing Recognition. Both recognized Libro’s ‘My Life Here’ campaign that tells stories about Libro owners’ lives in Southwestern Ontario.
Congratulations to all staff—each of us plays a role in our success with lean and in bringing our brand to life each day,” said Tania Goodine, Libro’s executive vice president engagement. “I feel both proud of this achievement and grateful for the Libro team who is committed to success each day, one moment at a time.”
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