A first Choices for Vancouver Island

When it comes to organic grocery shopping, consumers on Vancouver Island will soon have Choices.

The Pattison Food Group will be opening its first Choices Markets on the Island--a 22,000-square-foot store in the city of Parksville next fall.

The 30-year-old Choices Markets specializes in organic, local and specialty foods and already has 10 locations in B.C., mostly in the Vancouver area.

“Parksville is a vibrant community of both young and established families, and we’re excited to be growing right alongside them,” said Jon Janower, Choices Markets COO in a release. 

The new Parksville Choices will take over a space previously inhabited by another Pattison grocery banner, Quality Foods. According to the release, the new store will follow the Choices model of supporting small local producers; offering high quality, ethically raised or sourced meat, poultry and seafood; local, organic produce, dairy and grocery options; and stocking thousands of natural wellness products.

Started by brothers Wayne and Lloyd Lockhart in 1990, Choices Markets was acquired by Pattison in 2017. It is well-known for hard-to-find items necessary for specialized diets as well as local and organic goods, which remains a fast-growing consumer category.

In 2020, Canadians spent approximately $7 billion on organic food, according to a report from Export Development Canada. While that’s only about 3.2% of all sales, demand continues to grow at 8% annually. Aside from its wide selection of organic foods, Choices also offers a nutrition program and supports a number of community outreach initiatives.