Iconic PNE doughnut vendor not returning after fair rejects application
An iconic food vendor at the Pacific National Exhibition in Vancouver won't be returning this summer after its application was rejected.
Those Little Donuts, which serves up cinnamon-sugar-dusted treats, said in a statement on social media it won't be at the fair this year.
"The PNE Food Committee regrets to inform you that your applications have not been accepted to participate at the PNE Fair as we already have similar products," the company said, quoting the rejection letter it received from the PNE.
Fans of the doughnut cart shared their disappointment on social media, with some saying the products "don't compare" to others. Others called the doughnuts a PNE "staple."
"We're very, very disappointed that we're not there. It's been such a hard two years with COVID and everything like that," Nathan Maier, owner of Those Little Donuts, told CTV News Vancouver.
Three other doughnut vendors will still be available at this year's fair.
"We made the decision based on a variety of reasons to not bring back that booth and instead bring in the booth that is owned by the granddaughter of the founder of mini doughnuts in Canada," PNE spokesperson Laura Ballance explained.
Every year, the fair offers an eclectic spread of food. Last year, with "fair fundamentals" as the theme, options varied widely from a new vendor offering exclusively plant-based options to another that offered a chicken sandwich with two doughnuts for buns.
Even during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when the fair was forced to pivot its setup, operators hosted a "Taste of the PNE" drive-thru experience so fans could still get their favourites.
This year's fair opens on Saturday.
With files from CTV News Vancouver's Angela Jung
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
'It was joy': Trapped B.C. orca calf eats seal meat, putting rescue on hold
A rescue operation for an orca calf trapped in a remote tidal lagoon off Vancouver Island has been put on hold after it started eating seal meat thrown in the water for what is believed to be the first time.
Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
B.C. judge orders shared dog custody for exes who both 'clearly love Stella'
In a first-of-its-kind ruling, a B.C. judge has awarded a former couple joint custody of their dog.
Saskatoon police to search landfill for remains of woman missing since 2020
Saskatoon police say they will begin searching the city’s landfill for the remains of Mackenzie Lee Trottier, who has been missing for more than three years.
Shivering for health: The myths and truths of ice baths explained
In a climate of social media-endorsed wellness rituals, plunging into cold water has promised to aid muscle recovery, enhance mental health and support immune system function. But the evidence of such benefits sits on thin ice, according to researchers.