Thrifty Foods' latest store shows smaller is a big trend

Thrifty Foods opened its 28th store in Maple Ridge, B.C., earlier this month.

The 35,000 sq.ft. store has a made-to-order sushi bar, a focus on local fruit, vegetables and cheese, as well as live lobster and crab tanks and organic beef and chicken.

The store also includes an array of energy efficient bells and whistles and is designed to have a 65 per cent lower carbon footprint than a typical grocery store.

Thrifty Foods president Jim Dores told the Vancouver Sun that the new store is part of the chain’s growth strategy.

“Our plans are to grow three stores a year over the next 10 years,” he told the reporter.

The chain has spent about $100 million on nine new stores and seven store renovations since selling to Sobeys in 2007, he said.

Stewart Samuel, senior analyst at IGD, says that because Thrifty Foods has a unique offering and a strong focus on fresh, the smaller footprint and ease of shopping should appeals to foodies.

“It doesn’t have the significant non food ranges that you find in other supermarkets, but there is definitely a trend towards smaller formats within the global food industry,” he said.

The Maple Ridge store is the 8th store to operate around the clock.