Foodland's Dores takes over at Thrifty Foods

Sobeys’ Thrifty Foods division in British Columbia is getting a new president.

Jim Dores, who realigned the Foodland banner for Sobeys in Ontario, takes over at Thrifty on Feb. 1, in what the company is calling a planned transition. Dores replaces Miford Sorensen, who is retiring.

Dores’s career in marketing, merchandising and wholesale spans 35 years. He joined Sobeys in 1999 and was most recently senior vice-president and general manager of the community banner and wholesale program in Ontario.

He oversaw the growth of the company’s wholesale business in the province as well as the 160-store Foodland banner–which is now Sobeys de facto franchisee banner in Ontario, having replaced IGA over the past year.

Jim is a seasoned, highly-qualified food retailer with a solid reputation in the industry and is an absolutely great fit for Thrifty Foods,” said Bill McEwan, president of Sobeys Inc. “We are delighted to have someone of Jim’s knowledge, experience and proven capability to lead our important Thrifty Foods division.”

Thrifty Foods operates 26 stores in British Columbia, mostly on Vancouver Island, and also distributes to some 60 independents. Sobeys bought it in 2007.

Last year, Thrifty opened four new stores. The most recent was the Brooks Landing store in Nanaimo in December.

Sorensen worked in the grocery industry for more than 40 years. He was hired by Thrifty founder Alex Campbell in 2004.

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