Leezen (supermarket)
Native name | 里仁事業股份有限公司 |
|---|---|
| Company type | Private / social enterprise |
| Industry | Organic & sustainable retail, food & consumer goods |
| Founded | January 1998 |
| Founder | Nichang |
Number of locations | 135 stores in Taiwan 3 in Canada 17 in the United States 1 each in Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei 4 in China |
Area served | Taiwan (and some overseas distribution) |
Key people | Li Miaoling (李妙玲, Chair) |
| Website | www |
Leezen (Chinese: 里仁, also known as 里仁事業股份有限公司, "Leezen Company Ltd.") is a Taiwanese chain of natural products retailers. The company is owned and operated by Bliss and Wisdom, a Taiwanese Buddhist organization.[1]
History
Leezen originates from the establishment of the Tse-Xin Organic Agriculture Foundation (Chinese: 慈心大地) in the late 1990s by close disciples of Jih-Chang, the founder of Bliss and Wisdom.[1]
In January 1998, the first Leezen shop opened in Keelung, and Leezen Company Ltd. was formally incorporated in February 1998.In June 1998, Leezen began stocking locally produced organic "Black Beauty" watermelons despite their pale appearance, as a statement of support for farmers in conversion.[2]
In 2011, members of Bliss and Wisdom founded the exporting company Grain Essence Garden, which began exporting Prince Edward Island products to Taiwan for sale at Leezen.[3][4] Leezen opened their first overseas location in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island in 2016.[5][6]
Scale and operations
As of recent reports, Leezen collaborates with over 500 food and goods manufacturers and owns over 766 hectares of farmland. It distributes over 4,500 tonnes of organic produce annually, and carries more than 3,000 organic/vegetarian products across its store network.
Leezen operates 135 physical stores across Taiwan, as well as 3 in Canada, 17 in the United States, 1 each in Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei and 4 in China (including Hong Kong and Macau).
Controversies
- In 2013 during Taiwan's "toxin starch" scandal, a tofu product sold through Leezen and others was found to contain maleic acid. Leezen and partner channels came under public scrutiny.[7]
- In 2015, Greenpeace randomly sampled fresh produce sold by various organic channels and found papaya from Leezen containing bifenthrin residue; Leezen responded that contamination derived from an organic input (tobacco powder) used by farmers, and promised stronger controls.[8][9]
- In 2016, Taichung City Government's health bureau inspected hotpot products sold through major channels and found Leezen’s hotpot ingredients exceeded microbial limits; they were ordered to be withdrawn or improved.[10]
- In 2017, Leezen announced it would suspend cooperation with a tofu manufacturer (“Quansheng Old House”) after exposure of illegal labor and mistreatment of foreign workers; all its tofu products from that supplier were delisted.[11]
References
- ^ a b Bureau, Brigitte; Dugas, Rachel (14 June 2025). "Trouble on the island: A Buddhist group on P.E.I. with ties to China has become a flashpoint in a battle over religion and land". CBC News. Prince Edward Island: Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 14 September 2025. Retrieved 14 September 2025.
- ^ 風傳媒. "走過20年 有機連鎖通路「利他經營」讓世界更美好 | 地方新聞". www.storm.mg (in Chinese). Retrieved 2 September 2025.
- ^ Day, Jim (29 October 2015). "Taiwan consumers getting taste of P.E.I." The Guardian. Charlottetown, P.E.I.: SaltWire Network. Archived from the original on 15 September 2025. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
- ^ Mair, Karen (14 June 2018). "Taiwanese company expanding exports of P.E.I. food and products". CBC News. Prince Edward Island: Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 27 September 2021. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
- ^ Stewart, Dave (27 June 2016). "Major supermarket chain in Taiwan opens store in Charlottetown". The Guardian. Charlottetown, P.E.I.: SaltWire Network. Archived from the original on 15 September 2025. Retrieved 15 September 2025.
- ^ Yarr, Kevin (17 June 2016). "Taiwanese organic store chain opens shop on P.E.I." CBC News. Prince Edward Island: Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 19 December 2024. Retrieved 15 September 2025.
- ^ "毒澱粉 主婦聯盟 里仁有機 豆花也淪陷". 蘋果日報 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 5 December 2016.
- ^ "有機商店3蔬果 驗出多種農藥". 自由時報電子報. 18 November 2015. Archived from the original on 2 December 2019. Retrieved 5 December 2016.
- ^ "農產驗出農藥 有機商店改善". Liberty Times. 3 December 2015. Archived from the original on 2 December 2019. Retrieved 5 December 2016.
- ^ "今日大代誌 帶您搶先看". Chinese Television System. 6 November 2016. Archived from the original on 24 August 2019. Retrieved 5 December 2016.
- ^ "筌聖囚移工14年！民眾拒買 里仁緊急下架". Apple Daily. 27 February 2017. Archived from the original on 12 August 2017. Retrieved 3 March 2017.