Sponsored By

More Farm Boy stores coming from Sobeys

Parent Empire aims to double fresh market chain’s locations

Russell Redman

August 4, 2020

3 Min Read
Farm_Boy_store-Hamilton_ON.jpg
Farm Boy specializes in “farm fresh” produce and meat and offers organic, natural and locally sourced foods, along with a wide range of ready-to-eat food prepared in-store and a strong private-label lineup.Farm Boy

Sobeys parent Empire Company Ltd. plans to open 12 more Farm Boy fresh market stores by the end of next year, including three conversions of Sobeys supermarkets in Ontario.

More than 25 Farm Boy stores are currently in various stages of development in Ontario, including a mix new builds and banner conversions ranging in size from 12,000 square feet to a 38,000-square-foot signature store, Empire said.

Newly announced Farm Boy store locations are in Harbourfront in Toronto, Bronte in Oakville and Greenbank in Ottawa. Plans call for the existing Sobeys and Sobeys Urban Fresh stores to close this fall and reopen as Farm Boy in 2021.

Nine other Farm Boy stores are slated to open later this year and before the end of 2021 in Ontario, including one next month in Newmarket; two in Toronto and one in Ottawa this fall; one in Waterloo and another in Toronto over the 2020-21 winter; one in Richmond Hill next spring; and one apiece in Etobicoke and Toronto during 2021.

“Farm Boy’s unrivaled fresh food offer and popular private-label brand have connected tremendously with customers in Ontario,” Empire President and CEO Michael Medline said in a statement. “This format is a clear winner for us and is part of our Project Horizon commitment to grow market share and optimize our store network over the next three years.”

Related:Sobeys parent Empire hatches new three-year growth plan

Farm_Boy_produce_department.jpg

Sobeys now has 31 Farm Boy stores in Ontario and has announced another 12 locations, including banner conversions.

Ottawa-based Farm Boy currently has 31 stores in Ontario. Empire acquired the chain in an $800 million (Canadian) deal in December 2018. Operated as an independent unit, Farm Boy specializes in “farm fresh” produce and meat and offers organic, natural and locally sourced foods, a wide range of ready-to-eat food prepared in-store and a strong private-label program.

Farm Boy had 26 stores when it was acquired, and Empire has since opened another five locations. The company said it aims to double the chain’s store count over five years via brand new stores and conversions of Sobeys supermarkets.

“We’re continually evolving our offer to deliver Farm Boy’s signature fresh food and convenience to communities across Ontario,” according to Jean-Louis Bellemare, president and general manager of Farm Boy. “Our team is dedicated to delivering unique, interesting and amazing products and the exceptional customer experience so many of our customers have come to enjoy.”

Along with Farm Boy, Empire has pushed ahead with the expansion of its FreshCo discount banner, mainly in Western Canada via conversions of Sobeys and Safeway supermarkets.

The company said late last week that it plans to shut the Sobeys Airport Road store in Brampton, Ontario, this fall and reopen it as a Chalo! FreshCo location — specializing in South Asian products — in the spring of 2021. Meanwhile, the Sobeys Urban Fresh Mount Pleasant store in Toronto is scheduled for permanent closure this fall. Empire projects $6.1 million in pre-tax costs for the conversions and closures to be charged to fiscal 2021 first-quarter earnings. Thus far, the company has confirmed 28 of approximately 65 stores earmarked for FreshCo conversions.

Related:Sobeys begins Voilà online grocery delivery in Toronto

 

About the Author

Russell Redman

Senior Editor
Supermarket News

Russell Redman has served as senior editor at Supermarket News since April 2018, his second tour with the publication. In his current role, he handles daily news coverage for the SN website and contributes news and features for the print magazine, as well as participates in special projects, podcasts and webinars and attends industry events. Russ joined SN from Racher Press Inc.’s Chain Drug Review and Mass Market Retailers magazines, where he served as desk/online editor for more than nine years, covering the food/drug/mass retail sector. 

Russell Redman’s more than 30 years of experience in journalism span a range of editorial manager, editor, reporter/writer and digital roles at a variety of publications and websites covering a breadth of industries, including retailing, pharmacy/health care, IT, digital home, financial technology, financial services, real estate/commercial property, pro audio/video and film. He started his career in 1989 as a local news reporter and editor, covering community news and politics in Long Island, N.Y. His background also includes an earlier stint at Supermarket News as center store editor and then financial editor in the mid-1990s. Russ holds a B.A. in journalism (minor in political science) from Hofstra University, where he also earned a certificate in digital/social media marketing in November 2016.

Russell Redman’s experience:

Supermarket News - Informa
Senior Editor 
April 2018 - present

Chain Drug Review/Mass Market Retailers - Racher Press
Desk/Online Editor 
Sept. 2008 - March 2018

CRN magazine - CMP Media
Managing Editor
May 2000 - June 2007

Bank Systems & Technology - Miller Freeman
Executive Editor/Managing Editor
Dec. 1996 - May 2000

Supermarket News - Fairchild Publications
Financial Editor/Associate Editor
April 1995 - Dec. 1996 

Shopping Centers Today Magazine - ICSC 
Desk Editor/Assistant Editor
Dec. 1992 - April 1995

Testa Communications
Assistant Editor/Contributing Editor (Music & Sound Retailer, Post, Producer, Sound & Communications and DJ Times magazines)
Jan. 1991 - Dec. 1992 

American Banker/Bond Buyer
Copy Editor
Oct. 1990 - Jan. 1991 

This Week newspaper - Chanry Communications
Reporter/Editor
May 1989 - July 1990

Stay up-to-date on the latest food retail news and trends
Subscribe to free eNewsletters from Supermarket News

You May Also Like