March 1st – name change to Associated Grocers (Jim Pattison)

Family Foods was owned privately but supplied by Safeway’s supplier. See press release

Owners say the two stores – Buy-Low and AG will compete for customers and have competitive pricing.

OSOYOOS FAMILY FOODS TO BECOME AG FOODS

Keith Sheardown and Ken Naylor announced today that the Osoyoos Family Foods has been sold and that after February 28, the store will become known as AG Foods. AG Foods is part of the Buy-Low Foods group of stores.

“After 49 years of having the honour and privilege of serving the needs of our many wonderful and loyal customers, Ken and I are ready to enjoy a slower pace of life. We feel really good about the new ownership,” said Keith. “It seemed like a natural fit to pass the baton to the people who, through their existing location, both know and understands the unique needs of the town already.”

Although it has had a few different names over the years, the store has been a longtime fixture in the community and is well known for its support of local charities and community events.

“Once we made the decision to sell, there was really only one choice of a buyer in our minds” says Keith. “Buy-Low, and its Associated Grocers Wholesale division have been serving independent retailers through their wholesale operations for more than 87 years and operating stores in small towns across BC for almost 50 years. They are a community-minded company that we know will serve our customers with the same passion and dedication we have had all our years.”

And to Buy-Low, a commitment to community starts with the people working in its stores. “Another big part of the of the reasons that we decided to sell our business to Buy-Low was the fact that they wanted to keep our friendly and qualified staff who will continue to serve you as they have in the past,” added Keith.

“We wish Keith and Ken the very best in their retirement from the business and we are very happy that the current staff will be staying on in the store,” said Buy-Low President Dan Bregg, in announcing the purchase of the Osoyoos Family Foods. “They are a talented group of people that have served the community of Osoyoos very well over the years and our plan is to provide them with every opportunity to continue that tradition.”

Although customers can expect many of the same offerings in the store that they have become accustomed to, there will be a few changes that will be necessary immediately as a result of the ownership change. “The “Family Foods” name belongs to the wholesale arm of Canada Safeway, and we are not be entitled to use that name,” says Bregg. “We thought that given the range of products and choices in the offering and the independent-style approach the brand offers, AG Foods was a great choice for this location.

AG Foods is a chain of mostly independently owned stores operating under a program of Buy-Low’s Associated Grocers Wholesale Division. There are currently 49 AG Foods stores in the provinces of BC, Alberta and Saskatchewan (see www.agfoods.com).

There will be a short, three-day, closure from Sunday, March 1st to Noon Wednesday, March 4th, to allow for a changeover of the Cash Register system and some internal and administrative processes as the store transitions its wholesale supply to Associated Grocers.

“We are really looking forward to have the opportunity to get into this new location, listen to the staff and customers, and start to invest in improvements that will really make a difference to customers in the neighborhood,” said Bregg.

“We are a very community-oriented company and we are proud of the community support we have been able to give over the years.” said Bregg, recollecting the large donation the company made towards the new playground last year. “We look forward to many years of serving and being a part of the Osoyoos community, and at the same time, we know that we will have to continue to work hard to earn the support of consumers in Osoyoos” Dan added.