Farm Boy to open eight stores
Empire-owned fresh food grocer continues its expansion across Southern Ontario with latest store announcement
Farm Boy Inc. storefront (CNW Group/Farm Boy Inc.)
Farm Boy is taking the next steps in its ambitious Ontario expansion plan with the announcement it will open eight locations in the province over the next two years.
In addition to new stores in St. Catharines, Ottawa and Newmarket, the fresh food grocer will strengthen its foothold in the Toronto market with five locations in and around the downtown core. News of the future openings was made just days after Farm Boy cut the ribbon on its Burlington location.
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"We're delighted to see how well our offer continues to resonate with our customers. Farm Boy is entering an exciting phase of our growth plans as we expand our presence in the GTA and Ottawa, while also entering new markets like the Niagara region," said Farm Boy’s co-CEO Jeff York in a press release issued Tuesday morning.
The new stores will offer farm-fresh foods, chef-inspired take-out meals, private label specialty products as well as a broad selection of locally made, organic, and plant-based foods.
The Toronto locations include:
- Farm Boy College Park (12,000 sq. ft.)
- Farm Boy Yonge & Soudan (28,000 sq. ft.)
- Farm Boy Front & Bathurst (34,000 sq. ft.)
- Farm Boy Dundas W & Aukland (25,000 sq. ft.)
- Farm Boy Dupont & Christie (23,000 sq. ft.)
Farm Boy was in expansion mode before it was purchased by Sobeys parent Empire in September 2018 for $800 million. But, when details of the acquisition were announced, York told Canadian Grocer that Empire would help fuel Farm Boy’s growth and could provide access to better locations. With the big three–Loblaw, Sobeys and Metro–getting first chance at premium sites, Farm Boy was left with “the crumbs,” York said at the time.