2026 Star Women in Grocery Award Winner Heather West (Q&A)
Heather West
Franchisee
FreshCo, Bowmanville, Ont.
Sobeys Inc.
How did you get your start in the grocery business?
I started in the grocery industry later than many of my peers. I was looking for a change and fell into it. I actually started in the store I own now, working on the front end. From there, I went to another store as a front-end manager, moved into the front-end specialist role, then became a franchisee. I’d say it was a lot of hard work, a little bit of luck and the power of saying yes to opportunities that presented themselves.
Can you share some career highlights?
Being a part of the operations team that brought FreshCo to Western Canada is something I am very proud of. We were hiring a lot of people who had never walked through the doors of a FreshCo and didn’t know what we were about. We trained the cashiers from scratch and taught the front-end managers not just about cash, but also payroll, invoicing and reports. While staff were initially nervous when the stores opened because they didn’t know what to expect, seeing their confidence grow and watching the stores come to life was a wonderful experience. There were a lot of new and unique challenges, which taught me so much about the business and contributed to my success as a franchisee.
What do you like most about your current role? What's the most challenging part?
What I like most about my current role is the people. I am fortunate to have the most amazing staff and customers who motivate me to come to work every day. The grocery business has countless challenges; however, working with fantastic and capable people allows you to overcome each and every one of them.
How do you inspire and motivate your team?
Successfully running a grocery store cannot be achieved by one person. It takes a team. I motivate my team by appreciating them, recognizing the great work they do and leading by example.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
You don’t know unless you try. So be open to saying yes to the opportunities that present themselves. Sometimes, the fear of the unknown can prevent us from achieving success. Pushing through that fear and acting on opportunities I’ve been given is why I am where I am today.
How do you give back to the community and why is it important to you?
This is my passion. I was raised in Bowmanville, and I raised my kids here, so it’s a privilege to be able to give back to this town and the people who have contributed to our lives, from education and sports to families we grew up with. Our store supports the Salvation Army and over the last five years we’ve donated close to 20,000 pounds of food through the Second Harvest app. I also partner with the Durham Regional Police Department to host the Cram the Cruiser Food Bank Drive, not just at Christmastime, but in the summer when food banks are more in need. Once a year, we do donation bags for schools through customer purchases. I take them to local primary schools that are usually in great need at the end of the year. I’m also a long-time supporter of Meagan’s Walk & Hug at SickKids Hospital, raising awareness and funds for pediatric brain tumour research.
Outside of work, what are you passionate about?
Family. I wouldn’t be who I am or where I am without them supporting me on the journey. This business can be a stressful one, when I need to relax and unwind, you’ll find me curled up with a book or enjoying the outdoors.
Click here for the full list of 2026 Star Women in Grocery Award winners.