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Overwaitea purchases 15 grocery stores from Sobeys, locations in B.C. and Alberta

B.C. will take over 12 locations, the most going to New Westminster (two) and Victoria (three). 14 will become Save-On-Foods stores.
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Overwaitea Food Group

Overwaitea Food Group announced on Thursday that it has signed a "purchase agreement" with Sobeys, giving the B.C.-based company 15 grocery stores across British Columbia and Alberta.

The stores are being purchased by Overwaitea, necessary since Sobeys' purchase of Canada Safeway last June when Sobeys was required to sell a number of its locations, ordered by the Canada Competition Bureau. Overwaitea Food Group is owned under B.C. billionaire Jim Pattison's umbrella of businesses.

Of the 15 new stores in Overwaitea's group, 12 will be in British Columbia – one in Sidney, three in Victoria, one in Duncan, one in Ladysmith, one in Nanaimo, one in Port Alberni, one in Tsawwassen, one in Abbotsford, and two in New Westminster.

"We are thrilled to be able to welcome these stores, along with their existing team members and customers to our Group," said Overwaitea president Darrell Jones, in a company press release. "As a local grocer our philosophy is to tailor our stores and the mix in those stores to suit the needs of our customers and their communities. We rely on the folks who work in each of our stores to help us understand and deliver that.

"By welcoming more than 1,500 of the best grocers in North America to our team, we are in a great position to continue growing our business in these locations."

The three Alberta stores will be in Cochrane, Canmore, and Fort McMurray.

14 of the 15 locations will be turned into Save-On-Foods stores, and one will go under the Cooper's Foods banner, said Overwaitea's release.

Overwaitea's group also includes Urban Fare and PriceSmart Foods.





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