Overwaitea converts six stores to Save-On banner

Save-On-Foods is continuing to pick up steam. Last week, Overwaitea Food Group announced it was converting some of its existing Cooper’s Foods and PriceSmart Foods stores in British Columbia to Save-On-Foods.

To date, six Cooper’s Foods and PriceSmart Foods stores have re-opened as Save-On-Foods.

Despite these conversions, a spokesperson from Overwaitea Food Group told Canadian Grocer the company has no plans to phase out either Cooper's Foods or Pricesmart.

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“We’re always monitoring the markets where we do business to ensure that we provide the customers in each marketplace with the banners they want to see,” he said. “We’re very focused on making sure that we meet the needs of customers–which vary from community to community–and our multi-banner format allows us to do that.”

According to the spokesperson, Cooper’s Foods have a focused neighbourhood market feel, while PriceSmart Foods “offers its customers a unique shopping experience tailored for convenience and filled with international flavours.”

Save-On-Foods, for its part, has become one B.C.'s favourite grocers. In February, Save-On-Foods topped the list of the 20 most loved brands in B.C., according to BC Business magazine and Ipsos.

Another study this summer from the Peter B. Gustavson School of Business at the University of Victoria found Save-On-Foods to be among the brands Canadians trust most.

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Save-On stores currently operate only in B.C. and Alberta, but in July Overwaitea president Darrell Jones announced an expansion strategy that will see new Save-On stores open in Saskatchewan and Manitoba next year.

Overwaitea stores in B.C. converted to Save-On-Foods are:

·         Cooper’s Foods, Parallel Marketplace in Abbotsford

·         Cooper’s Foods in Port Coquitlam

·         Cooper’s Foods, Dewdney in Maple Ridge

·         PriceSmart Foods, Pinetreein Coquitlam

·         Cooper’s Foods on Garrison Way in Chilliwack

·         PriceSmart Foods on King Edward Avenue in Vancouver

The Cooper’s Foods store in Abbotsford will also become an e-commerce store for Overwaitea, meaning that it will be used to receive, pick and deliver online orders.