The only Sobeys store that is unionized is Forest Lawn.
I didn't know that. Safeway has had its fair share of strikes so I wouldn't be surprised if that's a factor in the sale. It'll be interesting to see how the current workers react to the news.
Sobeys was actually my first computer job (worked on their inventory systems).
Here in Ottawa, they tend to be the highest priced store of all. However, remember that Sobeys isn't just Sobeys. They could choose to make the Safeways into one of their other stores. Foodland, FreshCo, Price Choppers... all of which sell the same Our Compliments stuff and the regular brand stuff, but at a cheaper price.
Or it could be a means of breaking into the BC marketplace where Sobeys only has 3 stores.
I wish Farm Boy would expand. Damn I loved that store when I was in Ottawa.
__________________
KNOWLEDGE IS POWER. I love power.
Sobeys was actually my first computer job (worked on their inventory systems).
Here in Ottawa, they tend to be the highest priced store of all. However, remember that Sobeys isn't just Sobeys. They could choose to make the Safeways into one of their other stores. Foodland, FreshCo, Price Choppers... all of which sell the same Our Compliments stuff and the regular brand stuff, but at a cheaper price.
Or it could be a means of breaking into the BC marketplace where Sobeys only has 3 stores.
Sobeys East and Sobeys West are at 2 opposite ends of the spectrum. From what I've heard out East Sobeys is the be all end of of grocery stores.
Out West Sobeys pays the least of anyone (at least in my line of work. I make as much now, being at the bottom of the barrel in Co-Op as I did as an assistant manager at Sobeys), I've often found the quality on some of their things suspect(which partly has to do with the fact they pay such low wages), and they are bleeding money. This purchase is more about trying to get themselves established in the western provinces, not just B.C., and get themselves more buying power to compete with the Wal-Mart's and Targets of the world.
As long as I still get airmiles I could give a hoot who owns it.
Well then you should be happy if Safeway goes to Sobey's expensive pricing. More airmiles because you will be paying more for the same type of groceries.
Every time they do the survey Sobey's and Co-op are the 2 highest priced grocers in the city.
Damn, I don't like shopping among the plebs so I always go to Safeway.
It would be a pretty stupid decision for Sobey's to retire the Safeway brand in favour of their own though, that's what has a ton of value in the west. The deal would then become more of a play to take out the competition and wouldn't be worth the premium they paid for it.
Apparently people's opinion on the brands really depends which location they're near.
In Strathcona, the Sobeys is garbage (bakery is good, produce and meat are 3rd world). While Safeway (Aspen, Westhills), I find are great, better priced, and produce/meat is always 100x better. Coop falls somewhere in between, but due to distance and high prices, I don't really go there.
Superstore is great for getting the NE experience anywhere in the city.
That is indeed a bad Sobey's store. Another bad one is at the corner of Southland Drive and Fairmount Drive.
I have found that the Sobey's stores that used to be IGA stores are not good at all, whereas those built brand new as a Sobey's store seem to be far superior. If that is due to management or whatever, I do not know.
The Bridelwood Sobey's is very nice as is the one in Okotoks. I am not a fan of meat in any Sobey's store, except for perhaps a bit of chicken.
The new stores have quite a nice produce section and selection...in fact, I can get some things at the Bridelwood and Okotoks Sobey's that I can't even get at Superstore...like for instance kaffir lime leaves...poblano peppers too although the Westhills Superstore usually carries them.
Sobey's have great bakeries. Their selection might not be as extensive as Safeway stores but what they have tastes much better and is more natural. I make all my own bread but if I would have to buy bread, I would buy it at Sobey's over Safeway or actually any other grocery store.
Their deli's are also quite nice...especially their cheese section.
Again, I am speaking of the Sobey stores that were built as Sobey stores and not converted from former IGA stores.
Last edited by redforever; 06-13-2013 at 08:59 AM.
The Following User Says Thank You to redforever For This Useful Post:
Location: A simple man leading a complicated life....
Exp:
It wil be interesting to see if Sobey's will honour all the union contracts/wages.
Quote:
Wayne Hanley, national president of UFCW Canada, which represents thousands of Canada Safeway and Sobeys workers, said the union has asked for talks with Sobeys to discuss the takeover.
"While the purchase of Canada Safeway by Sobeys is a significant change in the Canadian food retail landscape, what has not changed are the collective agreements in place with both employers," Hanley said.
"We do expect Sobeys to live up to the labour commitments in place at Canada Safeway and have no reason to doubt they will."
Co-op is cheaper than Sobeys and usually very comparable to Safeway. When you factor in the money you get for being a co-op member (i think it's 2.5 or 3.5%) Co-Op is actually cheaper.
There's no way the union stays, Sobeys will do whatever it takes to eliminate the unionized employees. The contracted out there trucking several years ago the many unionized employees. Also UFCW would/ will be all over the current Sobeys employees, which could mean more trouble... What I see happening, is many, maybe all of the Safeway stores closing for a year (or whatever it take to eliminate the union employees) then re opening the stores as either A) a wholesale grocery store to compete directly with Superstore Costco etc... or B) a discount grocery store (no frills, etc.. competitor) or perhaps some store become A and some become B.
It will also be interesting to see what happens to Lucerne and all their associated products and any other businesses Safeway owned outside of the actual grocery stores.
As for preferring produce, deli, meat etc... from one over the other; the two stores have the same suppliers for the most part, and are selling the same things. As for the merchandising, it all depends on the management and employees as to what stays on the shelf, for how long, how often it gets replenished. That is where you'll see the difference and it will vary form store to store and manager to manager. Safeway typically has "Career Managers" as they pay better, whereas Sobeys managers are mostly just people who started out as courtesy clerks, a couple people quit and next thig you know they are running a department, until they find something better, usually a job at Safeway. This is why fresh goods generally seem better at Safeway.
__________________
The only thing better then a glass of beer is tea with Ms McGill
I wish we had Save-On here. I don't think there's any south of Red Deer, though, is there? And Co-op doesn't go much further north of Red Deer, does it? Edmonton doesn't have any.
I wish our Sobey's was still an IGA - in particular, a Freson IGA. Much prefer those, but they're few and far between.
S'more.
