Attention all shoppers: There’s another grocery store shuffle in New Westminster.
The Overwaitea Food Group announced today it is shutting down its Save-On-Foods store at Westminster Centre by August, the same time it is slated to open a new store at Columbia Square in downtown.
Earlier this year, Overwaitea Food Group took over additional stores in New Westminster, in addition to a previously secured site at Columbia Square. At the time, Save-On moved into the former Safeway location at Royal City Centre and another at the former Thrifty’s location in Sapperton.
Once Overwaitea took over the two new locations in the city, the company undertook a market assessment to consider options available to allow for continued growth in the market and opted to close the Westminster Centre location, according to a media release.
“We are pleased to say we anticipate all of our Westminster Centre team members will stay with us during this change,” Save-On-Foods vice-president Jamie Nelson said in the release. “On Aug.1, we look forward to continuing to serve customers in our three locations in Royal City, Sapperton and Columbia Square.”
The vast majority of the employees at the Wesminster Centre location, including the management team, will be going to Columbia Square. If someone doesn't go to Columbia Square, they'll be given options in one of the company's other locations, Overwaitea spokesperson Julie Dickson Olmstead told The Record.
The Overwaitea Food Group got its start nearly 100 years ago in New Westminster, and re-entered the market in 2009 with the opening of the Westminster Centre location. When the Columbia Square location opens and Westminster Centre closes, there will be three Save-On-Foods locations in the city.
Save-On-Foods is part of the Overwaitea Food Group, which has 16,000 employees and operates 144 stores in B.C. and Alberta under the Save-On-Foods, Overwaitea Foods, PriceSmart Foods, Cooper’s Foods, Urban Fare and Bulkley Valley Wholesale banners.
