“This past year for Vaisakhi and Diwali we had some great promotions in-flyer and did some food-sampling in-store. We participated in the local Vaisakhi parade and partnered with a local temple to distribute samples from local vendors. In 2017, we have some great flyer promotions and in-store events planned. Stay Tuned.,” Surrey Superstore 

manager Don Godard tells DESIBUZZCanada.

By R. Paul Dhillon – DESIBUZZCanada Founder/Editor

SURREY – Last December, the Superstore at 7550 King George Boulevard in Surrey celebrated it’s re-opening after  revamping and renovating to match Canadian consumers’ growing desire for value, fresh food, and global flavours. In addition to the President’s Choice®, no name® and national brand products customers love, they now have access to more than 2500 global flavours from around the world including India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Customers will have access to popular brands such as Suraj®, ARZ Fine Foods™, Rooster™, Britannia, Tilda, Maggie, Shan, Rubicon, Golden Temple, Shanna, T&T and many more.

“The Surrey community is so diverse and we think it is important that we have a variety of items available to meet everyone’s needs, all at super prices,” says Don Godard, store manager. “Many of our customers have told us that they make trips to specialty stores in addition to shopping here, so we wanted to make their lives a little easier by providing them with a true one stop shop for groceries in Surrey.”

Here is DESIBUZZCanada’s exclusive one-on-one interview with Surrey Superstore manager Don Godard.

DESIBUZZCanada: You have grown the ethnic food offerings at your stores tremendously. How important are the ethnic markets to Superstore-Loblaws?

DON GODARD: Canadians palettes are changing. More and more Canadians are incorporating foods from around the world in their everyday meals. In addition to ensuring we are offering products that fit the needs of our customers that shop at our stores, we have increased the amount of global flavours we offer, because customers of all backgrounds are asking for it.

Based on the demographics of the customers that shop at the Real Canadian Superstore® location in Surrey, we have renovated the store to allow us to provide a larger variety of authentic South Asian products and flavours. For example, customers can now find items like okra, karela, eggplant, Punjabi cookies, Cake Rusks, naans, rotis and Suraj® spices. This of course is in addition to our President’s Choice®, no name® and national brand products.

DESIBUZZ: Save On Foods is also now offering ethnic grocery in following your lead – what sets Superstore-Loblaws apart from your mainstream and ethnic food retail competitors?

DG: At the Real Canadian Superstore® we are focused on providing our customers value, fresh food and flavours from around the world.  Many of our customers have told us they make trips to multiple grocery stores to complete their weekly shop. We want to save our customers time and money by providing them with all of their grocery needs under one roof.

DESIBUZZ: How seriously do you take the ethnic South Asian retailers who supply many of the offerings that Superstore-Loblaws does?

DG: We believe there is a role to play for the Real Canadian Superstore® and independent South Asian retailers. We both offer something unique for our customers. 

DESIBUZZ: What special things have you planned for the future in terms of meeting the demand of South Asian shoppers?

DG: The renovation of the Real Canadian Superstore® location in Surrey is our initial step to provide our consumers with a larger variety of South Asian products. We welcome feedback and input from our customers on how we can continue to evolve to meet their needs.

DESIBUZZ: Are there going to special promotions and offerings during the two main festival seasons of Vaisakhi and Diwali?

DG: Absolutely. This past year for Vaisakhi and Diwali we had some great promotions in-flyer and did some food-sampling in-store. We participated in the local Vaisakhi parade and partnered with a local temple to distribute samples from local vendors. In 2017, we have some great flyer promotions and in-store events planned. Stay Tuned.

About Loblaw Companies Limited

Loblaw Companies Limited is Canada's food and pharmacy leader, the nation's largest retailer, and the majority unit holder of Choice Properties Real Estate Investment Trust. Loblaw provides Canadians with grocery, pharmacy, health and beauty, apparel, general merchandise, banking, and wireless mobile products and services. With more than 2,300 corporate, franchised and Associate-owned locations, Loblaw, its franchisees, and Associate-owners employ approximately 192,000 full and part-time employees, making it one of Canada's largest private sector employers.

Loblaw's purpose – Live Life Well – puts first the needs and well-being of Canadians who make one billion transactions annually in the companies' stores. Loblaw is positioned to meet and exceed those needs in many ways: convenient locations; more than 1,050 grocery stores that span the value spectrum from discount to specialty; full-service pharmacies at more than 1,250 Shoppers Drug Mart® and Pharmaprix® locations and more than 500 Loblaw locations; PC Financial® no-fee banking; affordable Joe Fresh® fashion and family apparel; and three of Canada's top consumer brands in Life Brand®, no name® and President's Choice®. Through the PC Plus® and Shoppers Optimum® loyalty programs, more than one in every three Canadians are rewarded for shopping with the companies.