The emergence of supermarket retailing concept has changed the retail industry for better making it more efficient and effective. The buyer and retailer backdrop has undergone some important changes over the past decades in Canada. The Supermarket industry in Canada comprises the largest food retail channel.
The retail sales of supermarkets were approximately 79 billion Canadian dollars in 2015 which has increased by many folds during 2016-17. Supermarket chains like Costco, Loblaws, Sobeys and Walmart remained the market leaders among the supermarket retailers. The increasing popularity of e-commerce in Canada is transforming the retail shopping to online grocery shopping.
However, for now, let’s have a look at the top Supermarket chains of Canada:
- Costco
Costco first started its operations in Seattle, Washington in 1983. The first Canadian Costco Wholesale warehouse opened in 1985 in Burnaby, BC. During the first years, only business owners or government workers were made eligible for membership of Costco. However, in 1993 Costco opened the membership to businesses and the general public. Today, they are a global retailer with warehouse club operations spreading across eight countries.
They offer a huge range of products that include anything from appliances to furniture, pharmaceutical products to toys, groceries to jewellery and many others. They also offer a range of services like insurance, travel, telecom services etc.
- Loblaws
Loblaws operates as the subsidiary of Loblaws Company Limited. Loblaw claims to be not only the country’s food and pharmacy leader but also the largest retailer and the major shareholder of Choice Properties Real Estate Investment Trust. They have a network of over 2300 corporate, franchised and Associate-owned outlets through which they offer grocery, pharmacy, health and beauty, general merchandise, banking and wireless mobile products and services across the country.
The company was founded in 1919 as Loblaw Groceterias Co. Ltd. and in 1939 they were renamed as Loblaws Inc. Today, they employ approx. 192,000 full- and part-time employees. Loblaws customer service team provides support in case of any queries/ concerns or issues. The toll-free Loblaws customer service numbers are 1-800-296-2332/ 1-800-567-8683.
- Sobeys
Sobeys Inc. is one of the largest food retailers in Canada. They operate as a subsidiary of Empire Company. This company was established in Stellarton, Nova Scotia during 1907. Today, they operate more than 1,500 stores in 10 provinces. Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, Foodland, FreshCo, Price Chopper, Thrifty Foods and Lawtons Drugs are few retail banners operated by Sobeys. They also offer over 330 retail fuel locations across the country.
They employ over 124,000 employees who offer superior customer service and are dedicated to construct a worthy brand value for its customers, shareholders & employees.
- Walmart
Walmart Canada is the country’s one of the most favourite discount store. It operates under the subsidiary of Walmart. Walmart Canada was established in 1994. Headquartered in Ontario, Walmart Canada’s is operating 410 stores which include 330 supercentres and 80 discount stores in every jurisdiction of the country.
Walmart Canada offers a broad range of products that include groceries, furniture, electronics, baby gears etc. They employ nearly 91000 employees across the country.
