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The latest news in the grocery biz

A new 31,425-sq.ft. Metro Plus store opened mid-March in Prévost, Que.

OPENINGS

Sunterra Market opened a two-level, 20,000-sq.-ft. store in Red Deer, Alta.

SUNTERRA MARKET has opened its ninth store in Red Deer, Alta. The two-level, 20,000-sq.-ft. store is a new build located at Bower Place. The Alberta-based retailer’s other locations are in Calgary and Edmonton, and Sunterra president Greg Price told Canadian Grocer: “Any time we open a store, it’s not really a cookie-cutter process for us—we try to customize the offering to the space and community.” At the Red Deer location, he said, there is “a significant focus on prepared foods and staple grocery items as well. But, as we see consumers shift to more fresh foods, the fresh offerings are dominant in the store.”

Courtice, Ont. (east of Toronto) is home to a brand new 34,000-sq.-ft. Food Basics location. FOOD BASICS, one of Metro’s discount banners, currently operates 139 stores across Ontario. And in Prévost, Que., a new 31,425-sq.-ft. METRO PLUS was opened in mid-March

by the Thibeault family, which operates five Metro stores in the Laurentian region.

SAVE-ON-FOODS has expanded its presence in Winnipeg with the addition of two new stores, giving it a total of five locations in the city. The two new stores, located at Pembina Crossing and Kildonan Place, provide a “full traditional grocery offering.” B.C.-based Save-On-Foods opened its first three Winnipeg stores in late 2016.

FARM BOY opened its 38th location at Toronto’s Harbourfront in early May. Located in the Queen’s Quay Terminal, the store is Farm Boy’s fourth downtown Toronto location. The fast-growing, Empire-owned chain says it will open another four locations before the end of the year.

INTRODUCING CANADIAN GROCER’S IMPACT AWARDS.

We know Canada’s grocery industry is filled with examples of companies and individuals making a positive impact; now, we’re asking you to shout about these efforts. We’ve launched the Canadian Grocer Impact Awards to recognize initiatives introduced by retailers, suppliers and solution providers that are making a meaningful difference in a range of areas: sustainability; diversity, equity & inclusion; supporting employees; and community service/local impact/ giving back. There’s also an Individual Impact Award to honour those individuals within an organization going above and beyond to make an impact in the areas listed above.

Tell us about the great work being done at your company! There is no fee to nominate and honourees will be featured in Canadian Grocer this fall. Visit cgimpactawards.ca before July 15, 2021 to nominate.

AWARDS/RECOGNITION

News to share? Tell us about your openings, comings and goings, etc. by dropping a line to sfitzgerald@ ensembleiq.com

Sarah Davis

Kelly Fleming

Vince Timpano

Jean Gattuso

Eric Huston

Brad Van Laare

ON THE MOVE Leadership changes at Loblaw: After 14 years at the company, president Sarah Davis retired in early May. Galen G. Weston has taken on the role of chairman and president of Loblaw; this is in addition to his role as chairman and CEO at George Weston Ltd. In a statement, Loblaw said that given recent shifts in the company’s strategic focus, Weston and Davis agreed it was the right time for Davis to pursue early retirement. Davis was appointed president in 2017. The company also announced that Robert Sawyer has joined Loblaw as chief operating officer and that Richard Dufresne, president and chief financial officer of George Weston Ltd., would expand his role to include CFO of Loblaw. Kelly Fleming has stepped into a new role at Kraft Heinz Canada. Formerly head of grocery at the food company, Fleming is now its chief category and brand officer. She joined Kraft Heinz Canada in 2010. Lassonde has announced Vince Timpano will become its president and chief operating officer on Oct. 1, replacing Jean Gattuso who is retiring after three decades at the company. Timpano has been working as president and CEO of Lassonde Pappas and Company, which is Lassonde’s largest manufacturing and sales subsidiary of ready-to-drink juices and beverages. Mars Food Canada has appointed Eric Huston as its general manager of the Canadian market. Huston joined the company in 2016 and most recently served as its strategic demand leader for the pet care division in Canada. Conagra Brands has promoted Pooya Mozaffari to customer group director – Loblaw/Shoppers Drug Mart, UNFI and private label. Prior to joining Conagra in 2020, Mozaffari held sales and marketing roles at L’Oreal and Pepsi. Carlton Cards has announced changes to its leadership team. The company has promoted both Brad Van Laare and Paul Werynski to the roles of vicepresident, Canada. Boosh Food has added to its team with Ali Samei and Cody Kester joining as vice-president of operations and Western sales manager roles, respectively. The B.C.-based company makes plant-based frozen foods.

Remembering Donald C.R. Sobey and W. Galen Weston

Canada’s grocery industry has lost two of its legends in recent months.

Former Empire president DOnalD C.R. SObey passed away in late March at the age of 86. Donald was one of four children of Sobeys founder Frank H. Sobey. He joined the family business in 1957 and served as its president from 1969 until he was appointed chair in 1985. Sobey is remembered for his business savvy as well as his extensive philanthropic work. “Empire and Sobeys owe so much to the leadership, business acumen and passion of Donald,” said Empire president and CEO Michael Medline in a statement. “Donald was a great businessperson as well as a visionary philanthropist who believed in nurturing Canadian artists and supporting the next generation of leaders. We will all miss him.”

In April, W. Galen WeStOn passed away at his home after a long illness; he was 80. The former chair of George Weston Limited joined the family business in 1972 when his father sent him to Toronto to take over a struggling Loblaw. He retired as chair in 2016 and is known for a lifelong commitment to philanthropy through organizations such as the Weston Family Foundation and the Weston Brain Institute. “My father’s greatest gift was inspiring those around him to achieve more than they thought possible,” said Galen G. Weston, chairman and CEO of George Weston Limited in a statement. “in our business and in his life he built a legacy of extraordinary accomplishment and joy.”