Sobeys adds warehouse for Thrifty division in B.C.

Sobeys on Monday announced that it will build a new distribution centre for its Thrifty Foods division on Vancouver Island.

Construction on the $31-million facility in Victoria is scheduled to begin by the middle of next year and be operational by late 2012. The 150,000-square-foot DC will be situated on 19 acres of land owned by the Victoria Airport Authority.

Thrifty Foods already operates three distribution centres. They handle shipments to its 25 corporate-owned stores in B.C. as well as to 60 independents through Thrifty’s wholesale division.

The new DC will include several sustainability features including waste recycling, heat capture, energy use monitoring, gas leak protection systems and environmentally farmed wood products in the construction process. 

“Sobeys remains committed to the future growth and development of Thrifty Foods here on the island and across B.C.,” Bill McEwan, president of Sobeys, said in a statement.

Since N.S.-based Sobeys bought Thrifty Foods three years ago, it has upgraded eight stores, opened seven new stores and opened a warehouse in Surrey, B.C.

Sobeys said that Thrifty’s Butler Crescent warehouse near Victoria will continue to operate as its divisional head office.