About Us

Rainbow Foods opened its doors in 1978. With barely 800 square feet of retail space, co-founders Michael and Janet Kaplan had only one vision: to provide Ottawa residents with healthier food choices. Starting with just a few rustic wooden bulk bins, some locally-produced cheese, and a small selection of herbs and vitamins, the original Rainbow Foods has since grown into one of the largest independent retailers of natural products in Ontario. With nearly 8,000 square feet of retail space, over 25,000 separate products, and an exceptional team of knowledgeable and dedicated employees, Rainbow has become an Ottawa landmark for health enthusiasts.  In spring 2014, we welcomed the opening of our second location, on Greenbank Road at the Greenbank Hunt Club Centre.

A lot has changed at Rainbow Foods since 1978, but many things still remain the same. While Michael and Janet have begun to step back from the business, their son Mischa and his wife Sarah now run most of the day-to-day operations of the company. Like Michael and Janet, Mischa and Sarah share a fundamental belief in the ability of food to bring positive change to a person’s life, and in the need for food retailers to take a more ethical and honest approach towards the products they sell. Mischa and Sarah, supported by Rainbow’s dedicated and helpful team of employees, work hard to ensure that Rainbow stays true to the goals introduced by Michael and Janet back in 1978: a focus on customer service, combined with a firm belief in environmental sustainability, community involvement, and a core faith in the need for honesty and ethics in food production and retail sales.