B.C.-based Quality Foods set to open new location

B.C.-based Quality Foods, part of the Pattison Food Group (PFG), is set to open a new store in the Victoria community of Royal Bay. 

The grocer – which has several locations across Vancouver Island and one store in Powell River, B.C. – is also closing its distribution centre in Errington on Dec 31. 

Quality Food stores will receive their groceries from PFG’s partner warehouses on Vancouver’s lower mainland. 

“When we opened our first store over 40 years ago, the grocery market on Vancouver Island looked a lot different. It was dominated by local, traditional grocery stores. Now, Vancouver Island is similar to other parts of Canada with major national and international chains and warehouse stores, making it extremely hard for us to compete.” said Noel Hayward, Quality Foods president, in a statement. “In order to compete and grow, it has become apparent that we need to change the way we do business and service our stores. We’re working hard to lower costs across the entire supply chain.” 

The new store promises to add 100 jobs to the local economy. 

Employees at the Errington centre will be presented with continued employment opportunities to consider, including jobs with other PFG companies or at local Quality Foods stores. 

“We will be able to service the new store out of our existing warehouse, but anything beyond that would be a challenge,” Justin Schley, Quality Foods vice president, said in a statement. “When we looked at opportunities to grow our business, it became apparent that our current infrastructure would not be able to handle the capacity. Our distribution centre is over 30 years old and is just too small to service more stores.”  

Hayward added that the company is looking to grow both on and off Vancouver Island. 

“We believe that local grocery stores play important roles in the community and Quality Foods is a strong, local brand that remains B.C.-owned and operated,” he stated.