T. Ozbun
Research expert covering food retail and all food topics for Italy and Brazil
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Sobeys Inc., the Canadian food retailer, operated over a thousand stores under various banners in Canada as of September 2022. The self-titled Sobeys retail stores were most widespread, with 255 locations in that year. Foodland and IGA ranked in second and third places, with 217 and 133 stores nationwide respectively.
Sobeys’ origins
The company was founded in Stellarton, Nova Scotia by John Sobey as a meat delivery business in 1907. By 1924, their product range had expanded to a full line of groceries. In 1947, Frank Sobey opened the first Sobeys supermarket in Atlantic Canada. Sobeys continued to expand throughout the Atlantic provinces in the 50s and 60s, and in 1987 opened their first store outside of Atlantic Canada in Ontario. Since then the retailer has acquired many brands and successfully grown into one of Canada’s biggest food retailers. Their revenue reached around 24.2 billion Canadian dollars in 2018.
Competition in the food retail market
Loblaw Cos Ltd. was the market leader in the Canadian food market in 2018 according to grocery sales value, making them Sobeys’ biggest competitor. Loblaw’s grocery sales reached approximately 32.47 billion Canadian dollars in that year, around eight billion more than second placed Sobeys Inc. Since 2013, Loblaws’ food retail store sales have continued to grow year-on-year, securing their top position in the Canadian grocery market.
Sobeys’ origins
The company was founded in Stellarton, Nova Scotia by John Sobey as a meat delivery business in 1907. By 1924, their product range had expanded to a full line of groceries. In 1947, Frank Sobey opened the first Sobeys supermarket in Atlantic Canada. Sobeys continued to expand throughout the Atlantic provinces in the 50s and 60s, and in 1987 opened their first store outside of Atlantic Canada in Ontario. Since then the retailer has acquired many brands and successfully grown into one of Canada’s biggest food retailers. Their revenue reached around 24.2 billion Canadian dollars in 2018.
Competition in the food retail market
Loblaw Cos Ltd. was the market leader in the Canadian food market in 2018 according to grocery sales value, making them Sobeys’ biggest competitor. Loblaw’s grocery sales reached approximately 32.47 billion Canadian dollars in that year, around eight billion more than second placed Sobeys Inc. Since 2013, Loblaws’ food retail store sales have continued to grow year-on-year, securing their top position in the Canadian grocery market.
