Canadian grocer Sobeys continues the measured rollout of its convenience store program.
Sobeys Inc. is remodeling one of its Charlottetown store as part of its expanding convenience store program.
The company is converting a Needs Store on Euston Street in Charlottetown to a Sobeys express, according to the Guardian
In December 2015, Sobeys—a wholly owned subsidiary of Empire Company Ltd. and the second largest grocery retailer in Canada—rolled out Sobeys express, which is meant to test the retail waters that a smaller, convenience format affords.
Sobeys in 2012 grew its retail gas operations in Québec and Atlantic Canada with the purchase of numerous Shell retail gas locations. This acquisition also provides the company options for expanding the Sobeys express program with a mix of new-build and renovated stores at some of the corporate-owned Shell stations.
BIG BUSINESS
Choosing other locations will require some thought, based on logistics and other business considerations, but the company isn’t short of options. Based in Stellarton, Nova Scotia, Sobeys is a $24 billion company with more than 1,500 corporate and franchise stores in all 10 provinces under retail banners that include Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, Foodland, FreshCo, Price Chopper, Thrifty Foods and Lawtons Drugs, as well as more than 380 retail fuel locations.
The new location carries items commonly found in a convenience store, including deli and bakery products, and produce. However, the c-store’s fresh zones are a primary component to what decision makers envisioned when that launched late last year. Fresh zones relate to fresh food offerings—and the offerings are plentiful enough and diverse enough to distinguish Sobeys express from the competition.