Vancouver-based supermarket chain Choices Market continues to grow within Canada with plans to open a new production and warehouse facility in Burnaby, B.C. and a new store in Abbotsford, B.C. bring its total store count to 10.
At the moment, the chain operates eight stores and stands apart from other mass grocers by focusing on natural and organic foods.
The new production facility, which encompasses a total of 20,000-sq.-ft. and is more than double the size of the company’s previous Richmond location, will help Choices focus more on its line of prepared foods and breads that will be shipped to stores on a regular basis.
Ishkander Ahmed, CEO of Choices, told Canadian Grocer, “This move will ultimately allow us an even greater variety of fresh products in all of our stores. It started off as a factory outlet, and then we thought we can’t just do a factory outlet if we want to call it a Choices, because people coming in are going to expect a bit more. So it’s become a mini retail Choices store that has the smatterings of all our departments including health care.”
The latest expansion move from Choices is expected to bring in more business from surrounding suburb and the large industrial parks in the area.
Choices was founded in December 1990 by brothers Wayne and Lloyd Lockhart. The store continues to compete with larger chains and to satisfy customers by providing rewards programs and an in-house nutritionist.