Shopping on line can be easy, simple and save you lots of money. It can also take a lot of your time, frustrate you, and result in unwanted purchases. Now the same can be said for regular high street shopping, but with the vast opportunity presented by the Internet it will pay you to spend a few minutes reading this and understanding how to better optimize your Sobeys shopping experience:
1. Compare - without doubt the biggest advantage that the Sobeys offers shoppers today is the ability to compare thousands of Sobeys at a time. This is a great thing, but not necessarily all the time! Too much can be daunting at times so take advantage of the great comparison sites and where possible let them do the hard work for you.
2. Research - if it has been said it will be on the internet. Ignorance is no longer a justifiable reason for buying the wrong thing. Take the time to research in detail everything that you could possible want to know about
3. Testimonials - don't know anybody that has bought a Sobeys? Wrong! If the Sobeys is good the internet will let you know. Use the Internet as a friend and get testimonials before you buy.
4. Questions - Got a question about Sobeys then search the Forums, FAQ's, Blogs etc. Don't be afraid to ask .....
5. Reputation - Never heard of the company selling Sobeys? Don't worry, no reason why you should know every company in the world, but you know someone that does! Use the internet to find out what people are saying about Sobeys and build up a picture of their reputation for sales, returns, customer service, delivery etc.
6. Returns - still worried that even after all of the above your Sobeys wont be what you want? Check out the returns policy. There is so much competition now that someone, somewhere is bound to offer the terms that you are comfortable with.
7. Feedback - happy with your Sobeys then let people know, after all you are depending on others people input in your buying decision, so why not give a little back.
8. Security - check for the yellow padlock on the Sobeys site before you buy, and the s after http:/ /i.e. https:// = a secure site
9. Contact - got a question about Sobeys, or want to leave a comment then check out the sites contact page. Reputable companies have them and respond.
10. Payment - ready to pay for your Sobeys, then use your credit card or PayPal! Be aware of companies that don't accept them, there may be genuine reasons but given the huge amount of choice you have when buying online there is no reason at all not to buy via credit card or PayPal.
{{Infobox Company| company_name = Sobeys Inc.| company_logo = | company_type = Public company || foundation =
Stellarton, Nova Scotia (
1907)]| key_people =
Bill McEwan, President & CEO| industry = Grocery | products =
Grocery ([2006)], with over 1,300 supermarkets operating under a variety of banners. Headquartered in
Stellarton, Nova Scotia, it operates stores in all
Provinces and territories of Canada and accumulated sales of more than $12 billion Canadian dollars in 2006.
History
The company was founded by
John W. Sobey in 1907 as a meat delivery business in Stellarton, Nova Scotia. In
1924 his son Frank H. Sobey convinced him to expand into a full grocery business, serving the industrial
Pictou County, Nova Scotia region. From that point until his death, Frank was the driving force behind the business. Sobeys opened its first self-serve supermarket in 1949.
The chain eventually expanded throughout
Atlantic Canada. During most of the second half of the 20th century it was the region's dominant grocer. In the 1980s, Sobeys expanded into southern Ontario, challenging Loblaws on its "home turf", thereby igniting what came to be a nationwide battle for market supremacy.
Sobeys had significant stakes in
New England grocer Hannaford (supermarket) and
Quebec grocer
Provigo until the 1990s.
In
1998, Sobeys became the second-largest grocer in the country after purchasing the Oshawa Group, owners of the
IGA (supermarkets) franchise across Canada, along with several regional chains in Ontario, in addition to various food service and wholesale companies.
In 2005, Sobeys lost a bidding war with Quebec based Metro (supermarket, Canada) to acquire A&P Canada, operator of several Ontario supermarket chains. The all-cash offer made by Sobeys was reportedly the highest bid for the chain but The Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company ultimately accepted Metro's $1.7 billion cash-and-stock offer. It is also suggested that the Sobey family was unwilling to cede any control to the Tengelmann Group, owners of the chain. Two CEOs dined, one got Apple Pie, Konrad Yakabuski,
The Globe and Mail, July 23, 2005. Accessed March 25, 2007. Though Sobeys remained the second largest grocery chain in Canada, it was the third place chain in most of the provinces outside the Atlantic, and the successful purchase of A&P Canada would have helped to bolster its position in Ontario.
In 2007, Sobeys announced a $260 million takeover offer for the Thrifty Foods chain in British Columbia. Sobeys buys Thrifty, gains foothold in BC, Marina Strauss,
The Globe and Mail, July 16, 2007.
The company currently operates more than 1,300 stores in ten provinces and distributes goods to thousands of wholesale customers.
Ready to Serve initiative
In 2002, Sobeys undertook major changes in its store design and customer service policies with the introduction of "Ready to serve". This initiative was reportedly an attempt to emulate the successful moves of the
Publix supermarket chain in the Southern United States Grocery business faces sea change, Gordon Pitts,
The Globe and Mail, July 20, 2005. Accessed March 12, 2007.
It was highly stressed upon introduction that it was not simply a new slogan, but a new operating strategy focused on improved customer service. Loblaws, its largest competitor, has much larger stores and puts an emphasis on low prices. Sobeys decided to de-emphasize the price/size war in favour of a customer service upgrade.
The initiative introduced a series of changes intended to improve customer service. Employee uniforms, previously rather formal, were changed to more casual attire and wireless headsets and phones were introduced. Advertising and in-store signage were changed, and the
Front-End Manager became the
Customer Experience Manager. Employees are also trained to be more customer-oriented. Cashiers are required to greet, converse with, and assist customers. This can include packing their groceries for them. The same is required for employees in other departments as well.
At the same time the
Ready to Serve initiative was implemented, the logo for the store was also changed. The four green circles were dropped and the logo simply consists of the Sobeys
Wordmark (graphic identity). The four green circles were however retained in the corporate logo of Sobeys Inc. The term
Ready to Serve was added to the exterior of new and renovated stores.
In September 2006, Sobeys introduced a new slogan, a revamped website, and a new advertising campaign. The term
Ready to Serve is no longer added to the exterior of new and renovated stores.
Private label brands
Sobeys' private label products are branded
Compliments. The brand was known as
Our Compliments when Sobeys acquired it through its purchase of Oshawa Group. In 2005, the company relauched the brand, dropping the
Our and expanding the product lineup. The Compliments/Our Compliments brands supplanted the
Our Best line of products.
Compliments is divided into several sub-brands. Lower-price products are sold under the
Compliments Value name; it is the successor to the
Smart Choice label, which was also obtained by Sobeys in the Oshawa Group acquisition. Premium-tier products are part of the
Compliments Sensations label which was introduced in November 2005.
Compliments Balance is a line of health-conscious products which are evaluated by the
Heart and Stroke Foundation, based on Canada's Food Guide, and bear the
Health Check symbol.
Organic food which are certified by
Quality Assurance International are offered under the
Compliments Organic label. During the
Winter holiday season#Shopping, from November to early January, special products are sold under the
Compliments Seasonal Collection name. In 2007,
Compliments Junior, a line of Health Check-certified products aimed at children and co-branded with
The Walt Disney Company, was introduced.
Private-label soft drinks are branded
Big 8 in
Atlantic Canada. Elsewhere, soft drinks bear the Compliments brand.
Company
In addition to the flagship Sobeys banner, the company also operates supermarkets under a number of banners. After the purchase of Oshawa Group, Sobeys continued to use the existing banners for years, in order to maintain customer loyalty.
IGA (supermarkets) and
IGA Extra are the main brands in the province of
Quebec. There are also 88 IGA stores in Western Canada and 105 in
Ontario. However, Sobeys has announced that it plans to convert most of the remaining IGA stores in Ontario to the Price Chopper, Foodland, or Sobeys banners. Sobeys to convert IGA stores to Sobeys brands, CBC News, August 28, 2006.An IGA store is also located in mainly French-speaking
Edmundston, New Brunswick; it is a rebranded Sobeys location. MarketPlace IGA stores in
British Columbia are independently owned by
H.Y. Louie, H.Y. Louie Co. Limited to join IGA International, IGA Press Release, February 10, 2005. parent of London Drugs, despite carrying Compliments products. Sobeys has reportedly made unsuccessful attempts to purchase the MarketPlace chain. Sobeys buys Thrifty, gains foothold in B.C., Marina Strauss,
The Globe and Mail, July 17, 2007
At the time of the Sobeys takeover of the Oshawa Group, all IGA locations in Atlantic Canada were purchased separately by Loblaw Companies Limited for competition reasons. Loblaws converted these IGA locations to one of their own banners.
Sobeys operates the smaller discount grocery store
Price Chopper (Canada) which has 118 locations in nine provinces and the Northwest Territories. The company also operates the Foodland (Canada) chain that is located mainly in rural areas of
Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia,
New Brunswick and Ontario. Other smaller grocery stores are operated under the
Tradition Markets banner in Quebec and the
Food Town (Canada) banner in
Western Canada. Sobeys also operates Thrifty Foods, a chain of 20 grocery stores based out of
Victoria, British Columbia.
Retired grocery banners
- Commisso's Food Markets in Ontario were rebranded as Sobeys and Price Chopper.
- Garden Market IGA stores in Western Canada were rebranded as Sobeys
- Knechtel (grocery chain), a small-market grocery store chain under Oshawa Group, was rebranded as Foodland.
- Lofood, a small discount grocery store, was rebranded as Price Chopper.
Other Sobeys-owned enterprises
The company owns the Needs Convenience, Sobeys Express, and
BoniChoix convenience store chains as well as the Lawtons drug store chain in Atlantic Canada. Sobeys also owns the wholesale food distribution company TRA Atlantic. The company delivers products to retail outlets, such as convenience stores and gas stations, throughout Atlantic Canada. TRA also operates the Kwik-Way and
Clover Farm convenience store chains.
At some Sobeys locations tobacco products are sold in a separate Sobeys-owned store, called Griffins (Tobacco Store). These outlets are a part of the Sobeys store but are only accessible from the outside due to provincial laws prohibiting stores with
Pharmacy from selling tobacco products.
A number of Sobeys stores in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick have a gas bar branded
Sobeys Fast FuelsSobeys Express stores carry items commonly found in a convenience store but also include deli and bakery products, as well as produce. The first trial locations opened in early 2004 in
Truro, Nova Scotia, Nova Scotia and Moncton,
New Brunswick but the chain has since expanded into Ontario. The trial locations were converted
Needs Convenience stores.
Empire Company
The Sobeys conglomerate is owned by Empire Company, which is controlled by the Sobey family. In addition to Sobeys, the Empire Company also owns Empire Theatres, Canada's second-largest movie theatre chain, as well as many commercial retail properties through subsidiary Crombie REIT.
References
External links
- Sobeys
- Foodland
- IGA (Ontario and Western Canada)
- IGA (Quebec)
- Sobeys Inc corporate site
- Compliments
{{Infobox Company| company_name = Sobeys Inc.| company_logo = | company_type = Public company || foundation = Stellarton, Nova Scotia (1907)]| key_people =
Bill McEwan, President & CEO| industry = Grocery | products =
Grocery ([2006)], with over 1,300 supermarkets operating under a variety of banners. Headquartered in
Stellarton, Nova Scotia, it operates stores in all
Provinces and territories of Canada and accumulated sales of more than $12 billion Canadian dollars in 2006.
History
The company was founded by
John W. Sobey in 1907 as a meat delivery business in Stellarton, Nova Scotia. In 1924 his son Frank H. Sobey convinced him to expand into a full grocery business, serving the industrial
Pictou County, Nova Scotia region. From that point until his death, Frank was the driving force behind the business. Sobeys opened its first self-serve supermarket in 1949.
The chain eventually expanded throughout Atlantic Canada. During most of the second half of the
20th century it was the region's dominant grocer. In the 1980s, Sobeys expanded into southern Ontario, challenging Loblaws on its "home turf", thereby igniting what came to be a nationwide battle for market supremacy.
Sobeys had significant stakes in New England grocer
Hannaford (supermarket) and Quebec grocer
Provigo until the 1990s.
In 1998, Sobeys became the second-largest grocer in the country after purchasing the
Oshawa Group, owners of the IGA (supermarkets) franchise across Canada, along with several regional chains in Ontario, in addition to various food service and wholesale companies.
In 2005, Sobeys lost a bidding war with
Quebec based
Metro (supermarket, Canada) to acquire A&P Canada, operator of several
Ontario supermarket chains. The all-cash offer made by Sobeys was reportedly the highest bid for the chain but
The Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company ultimately accepted Metro's $1.7 billion cash-and-stock offer. It is also suggested that the Sobey family was unwilling to cede any control to the
Tengelmann Group, owners of the chain. Two CEOs dined, one got Apple Pie, Konrad Yakabuski,
The Globe and Mail, July 23, 2005. Accessed March 25, 2007. Though Sobeys remained the second largest grocery chain in Canada, it was the third place chain in most of the provinces outside the Atlantic, and the successful purchase of A&P Canada would have helped to bolster its position in Ontario.
In 2007, Sobeys announced a $260 million takeover offer for the Thrifty Foods chain in British Columbia. Sobeys buys Thrifty, gains foothold in BC, Marina Strauss,
The Globe and Mail, July 16, 2007.
The company currently operates more than 1,300 stores in ten provinces and distributes goods to thousands of wholesale customers.
Ready to Serve initiative
In 2002, Sobeys undertook major changes in its store design and customer service policies with the introduction of "Ready to serve". This initiative was reportedly an attempt to emulate the successful moves of the Publix supermarket chain in the Southern United States Grocery business faces sea change, Gordon Pitts,
The Globe and Mail, July 20, 2005. Accessed March 12, 2007.
It was highly stressed upon introduction that it was not simply a new slogan, but a new operating strategy focused on improved customer service. Loblaws, its largest competitor, has much larger stores and puts an emphasis on low prices. Sobeys decided to de-emphasize the price/size war in favour of a customer service upgrade.
The initiative introduced a series of changes intended to improve customer service. Employee uniforms, previously rather formal, were changed to more casual attire and wireless headsets and phones were introduced. Advertising and in-store signage were changed, and the
Front-End Manager became the
Customer Experience Manager. Employees are also trained to be more customer-oriented. Cashiers are required to greet, converse with, and assist customers. This can include packing their groceries for them. The same is required for employees in other departments as well.
At the same time the
Ready to Serve initiative was implemented, the logo for the store was also changed. The four green circles were dropped and the logo simply consists of the Sobeys
Wordmark (graphic identity). The four green circles were however retained in the corporate logo of Sobeys Inc. The term
Ready to Serve was added to the exterior of new and renovated stores.
In September 2006, Sobeys introduced a new slogan, a revamped website, and a new advertising campaign. The term
Ready to Serve is no longer added to the exterior of new and renovated stores.
Private label brands
Sobeys' private label products are branded
Compliments. The brand was known as
Our Compliments when Sobeys acquired it through its purchase of Oshawa Group. In 2005, the company relauched the brand, dropping the
Our and expanding the product lineup. The Compliments/Our Compliments brands supplanted the
Our Best line of products.
Compliments is divided into several sub-brands. Lower-price products are sold under the
Compliments Value name; it is the successor to the
Smart Choice label, which was also obtained by Sobeys in the Oshawa Group acquisition. Premium-tier products are part of the
Compliments Sensations label which was introduced in November 2005.
Compliments Balance is a line of health-conscious products which are evaluated by the Heart and Stroke Foundation, based on
Canada's Food Guide, and bear the Health Check symbol.
Organic food which are certified by Quality Assurance International are offered under the
Compliments Organic label. During the Winter holiday season#Shopping, from November to early January, special products are sold under the
Compliments Seasonal Collection name. In 2007,
Compliments Junior, a line of Health Check-certified products aimed at
children and co-branded with
The Walt Disney Company, was introduced.
Private-label soft drinks are branded
Big 8 in
Atlantic Canada. Elsewhere, soft drinks bear the Compliments brand.
Company
In addition to the flagship Sobeys banner, the company also operates supermarkets under a number of banners. After the purchase of Oshawa Group, Sobeys continued to use the existing banners for years, in order to maintain customer loyalty.
IGA (supermarkets) and
IGA Extra are the main brands in the province of
Quebec. There are also 88 IGA stores in Western Canada and 105 in Ontario. However, Sobeys has announced that it plans to convert most of the remaining IGA stores in Ontario to the Price Chopper, Foodland, or Sobeys banners. Sobeys to convert IGA stores to Sobeys brands,
CBC News, August 28, 2006.An IGA store is also located in mainly French-speaking
Edmundston, New Brunswick; it is a rebranded Sobeys location.
MarketPlace IGA stores in
British Columbia are independently owned by
H.Y. Louie, H.Y. Louie Co. Limited to join IGA International, IGA Press Release, February 10, 2005. parent of
London Drugs, despite carrying Compliments products. Sobeys has reportedly made unsuccessful attempts to purchase the MarketPlace chain. Sobeys buys Thrifty, gains foothold in B.C., Marina Strauss,
The Globe and Mail, July 17, 2007
At the time of the Sobeys takeover of the Oshawa Group, all IGA locations in Atlantic Canada were purchased separately by
Loblaw Companies Limited for competition reasons. Loblaws converted these IGA locations to one of their own banners.
Sobeys operates the smaller discount grocery store
Price Chopper (Canada) which has 118 locations in nine provinces and the
Northwest Territories. The company also operates the Foodland (Canada) chain that is located mainly in rural areas of
Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia,
New Brunswick and Ontario. Other smaller grocery stores are operated under the Tradition Markets banner in Quebec and the Food Town (Canada) banner in
Western Canada. Sobeys also operates Thrifty Foods, a chain of 20 grocery stores based out of
Victoria, British Columbia.
Retired grocery banners
- Commisso's Food Markets in Ontario were rebranded as Sobeys and Price Chopper.
- Garden Market IGA stores in Western Canada were rebranded as Sobeys
- Knechtel (grocery chain), a small-market grocery store chain under Oshawa Group, was rebranded as Foodland.
- Lofood, a small discount grocery store, was rebranded as Price Chopper.
Other Sobeys-owned enterprises
The company owns the
Needs Convenience,
Sobeys Express, and
BoniChoix convenience store chains as well as the
Lawtons drug store chain in Atlantic Canada. Sobeys also owns the wholesale food distribution company
TRA Atlantic. The company delivers products to retail outlets, such as convenience stores and gas stations, throughout Atlantic Canada. TRA also operates the Kwik-Way and Clover Farm convenience store chains.
At some Sobeys locations tobacco products are sold in a separate Sobeys-owned store, called
Griffins (Tobacco Store). These outlets are a part of the Sobeys store but are only accessible from the outside due to provincial laws prohibiting stores with Pharmacy from selling tobacco products.
A number of Sobeys stores in
Nova Scotia and New Brunswick have a gas bar branded
Sobeys Fast FuelsSobeys Express stores carry items commonly found in a
convenience store but also include deli and bakery products, as well as produce. The first trial locations opened in early
2004 in Truro, Nova Scotia, Nova Scotia and
Moncton, New Brunswick but the chain has since expanded into Ontario. The trial locations were converted Needs Convenience stores.
Empire Company
The Sobeys conglomerate is owned by Empire Company, which is controlled by the Sobey family. In addition to Sobeys, the Empire Company also owns Empire Theatres, Canada's second-largest movie theatre chain, as well as many commercial retail properties through subsidiary
Crombie REIT.
References
External links
- Sobeys
- Foodland
- IGA (Ontario and Western Canada)
- IGA (Quebec)
- Sobeys Inc corporate site
- Compliments
Sobeys - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sobeys is the second largest food retailer in Canada, with over 1,300 supermarkets operating under a variety of banners. Headquartered in Stellarton, Nova Scotia, it operates ...
Sobeys | Grocery Store Info, Recipes, Inspiration.
Official website of the leading Canadian grocery store chain. Get your local grocery flyers, cooking tips, food recipes, and drink ideas.
Sobeys | Recipes
Let Sobeys and Compliments bring inspiration to your diet with new cooking recipes and meal ideas.
CANADA: Empire boosted by Sobeys growth : Food News & Comment
Boosted by the performance of its Sobeys division, Empire Company has reported record earnings for its fourth quarter and strong full year growth.
Sobeys Inc.
Sobeys Inc. 2000-2007, All Rights Reserved Last Modified, September 12, 2007
Datamonitor ComputerWire - Sobeys Inc - Company News & Research
Sobeys is a private grocery retailer in food distribution business with 1,296 stores across Canada in 10 provinces under retail banners that include Sobeys, IGA, IGA extra ...
Datamonitor - Premium Company Profile: Sobeys Inc. - Market Analysis ...
Detailed profile of Sobeys Inc. including corporate strategy, value chain presence and SWOT Analysis
Planet Retail
Planet Retail provides news and analysis on retailers and retail markets worldwide. Online services include a comprehensive database of leading grocery retailers and foodservice ...
Sobeys Slam
Sobeys Slam, an official new Women's Grand Slam Curling event from the World Curling Tour. This event will take place in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, Canada and will host some of the ...
Sobeys' Empire
The big brick mansion breaks the gentle curve of the northwestern shore of Nova Scotia. Frank Sobey, the man who built Abercrombie House, lived on and off in the waterfront ... The ...
