Butcher Predicts Organic Future

"West Vancouver butcher Sebastian Cortez is betting that his new 800-square-foot shop will ride the Lower Mainland's burgeoning organic wave.

The 32-year-old Cortez, who moved to Vancouver from Toronto a year ago after immigrating to Canada two years ago from Chile, opened Sebastian & Co. Fine Organic Meats in the 2400-block of Marine Drive seven months ago.

With business partner Jessica Gibson, Cortez has seen sales rise to between $6,000 and $7,000 a week today from between $2,000 and $3,000 a week in the first two weeks. Cortez said in an interview that he's just starting to make a profit.
Sebastian & Co. Fine Organic Meats co-owner Sebastian Cortez holds a side of dry-aged beef ribs. His beef is from a certified-organic Alberta farm.

"I didn't expect to open so soon, but we found the perfect location with an industrial kitchen. We didn't advertise. We just opened the door."

"[Sales] have been growing, but not as fast as I thought it would," said Cortez, who has hired two employees."

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