Food Basics is a Canadian supermarket chain owned by Metro Inc. The company operates over 115 stores throughout Ontario.
Food Basics was created by A&P Canada to compete with the successful No Frills warehouse-style supermarket operated by Loblaw Companies. It became part of the Metro group when A&P Canada was sold to Metro in 2005.
Food Basics lowers its prices in a number of ways: low maintenance (no free plastic bags, just free cardboard boxes), store decor is kept to a minimum and fewer staff are employed, mostly in part-time positions. The chain operates by pushing higher volumes on a limited selection of products than Metro stores allowing it to compete price-wise with other grocery stores. There are 117 locations in Ontario. 36 were franchise stores until Metro Inc. purchased all stores back by the end of 2008.
Some Food Basics feature a pharmacy, and are known as Food & Drug Basics.
Some locations are former Super Fresh or A&P supermarkets, dating from when both chains were operated by A&P, or formerly bore banners such as A&P-owned Dominion or Métro-owned Super C.
In the past, the owners' names appeared on the banner (e.g., 'John/Jane's Food Basics'); however, all stores are now simply called 'Food Basics'. Concurrent with this change is a different slogan, which was changed from "Best Prices Everyday!!!" to "Always more for less!"
In Fall 2006, Metro Inc. began to renovate Food Basics stores. The design and format of these new stores closely resemble Metro's Super C banner in Quebec. New store signs feature broken lettering and a larger emphasis on yellow, green and beige colours. In Spring 2007, Metro Inc. initiated their new BDMS inventory system into all of its warehouses.
Video Food Basics
Labour relations
Food Basics is represented by the United Food and Commercial Workers union. Food Basics mostly offers part-time positions, and each store has few full-time positions. In 2015, Overnight positions were discontinued by most stores because of budget reasons.
Maps Food Basics
Locations
Ontario
129 locations:
Private label brands
Food Basics carries many products from Metro's private label brands:
- "Irresistibles": premium quality products
- "Selection": regular store-brand products
- "Simply 1-2-3": low-price health and beauty products
- "Simply Kids": baby products including diapers, baby food and other baby products
- "Great Basics Finds": ready-to-assemble furniture, clothing, housewares and other seasonal items that are specially priced, available in limited quantities, for a limited time
Previous private label brands
- "Master Choice": premium quality products.
- "Equality": regular store-brand products.
- "Basics for Less": large economy-sized products.
- "The Baker's Oven": bakery products
See also
- Super C (supermarket)
- Metro Inc.
- List of Canadian supermarkets
- Food Basics (USA) - The now unrelated US-based no-frills supermarket chain currently controlled by A&P
References
Sources
- Zwiebach, Elliot. "A&P Canada is forming franchise unit." Supermarket News. November 27, 1995
External links
- Official website
- Metro Inc.
Source of article : Wikipedia