Longo's Newest Flagship Store in Southeast Oakville Marks its Commitment to Fresh

Third location deepens Longo's roots in Oakville

OAKVILLE, ON, June 24, 2013 /CNW/ - The Longo family is very proud to announce the opening of its third store in Oakville, in the neighbourhood of Southeast Oakville. Longo's 26^th store in the GTA is located at 469 Cornwall Road, just west of Chartwell and opens to the public June 26^th at 8 a.m.

"We're really excited to become a part of the Southeast Oakville community and offer our twist on the fresh grocery experience. Longo's team members are thrilled to bring our passionate fresh tradition, customer service and superior quality to a town we've been established in since 1982. We want to be sure every shopper who steps into the store gets added-value every visit," says Anthony Longo, President and CEO, Longo's.

Like all Longo's locations, Southeast Oakville focuses on fresh food, high quality and great value. By hand-picking produce six days a week from the Ontario Food terminal, Longo's provides shoppers with the best daily selection. To inspire healthy eating, Longo's premieres a full-service offering of over 100 varieties of organic produce, ensuring incomparable choice and freshness. Longo's welcomes shoppers to experience its extensive food expertise, usually only found in niche food boutiques, along with its legendary array of local produce and exotic products that are sourced from around the world.

The 40,000 square foot space will include, Longo's award-winning 40-item salad bar, gourmet made-to-order stone oven pizza, panini and hot sandwiches, made-on-site hardwood smoked meats and fish and Aromaté's fresh, in-store coffee bean roasting. Godiva makes its Canadian grocery store debut, with an in-house Chocolatier creating fine Belgian chocolates and decadent truffles exclusively sold at Southeast Oakville.

This location offers much more than food and groceries with premium services such as, an in-store Morelli's Pharmacy, Starbucks and Corks Beer & Wine Bar. At the Corks Lounge, families can share a casual dining experience with a freshly prepared meal, paired with a glass of their favourite Ontario wine or craft beer. It's also home to The Loft by Longo's cooking school, which offers specialty cooking classes and store tours for foodies and rookies alike to explore their senses. Customers can develop their cooking skills using a variety of exotic and everyday ingredients.

True to its roots and vision of community giving, Longo's has been an integral part of the Oakville community for over 30 years. It also offers some of its community partners like Healthy Fam (Kids Culinary Community) and diabetes and renal patients at the Oakville Trafalgar Hospital, space at The Loft to gather and learn about healthy eating and nutritious cooking.

Longo's 26^th location is amongst the most innovative in design and maintenance. By using the latest in energy-efficient technology, its LED and compact fluorescent lighting and cutting-edge equipment from Hill-Phoenix reduces the usage of CFC's/Freon and energy emissions. Longo's designs also ensured all paints, sealants and adhesives were non-toxic and low in volatile organic compounds. Southeast Oakville will also follow Longo's Green Returns Recycling Program, to increase its environmental initiatives and provide customers with a green shopping experience.

With the renovation and reopening of the Longo's Trafalgar store on August 28^th, Oakville will be home to three optimal full-service shopping destinations: Burloak, Trafalgar and now, Southeast Oakville. Longo's is proud to welcome its customers to experience the Longo's fresh tradition at any one of these stores for an unforgettable shopping experience.

Longo's Southeast Oakville grand opening events on Wednesday, June 26 beginning at 8:00 a.m., including:

• Hosted by Rosanne Longo, the morning events will include a welcome by Anthony Longo to officially mark the store opening
• The traditional Biting of the Apple with Mayor Rob Burton and the Longo's Family
• A speech will also be given by Tina Triano, CEO of the Oakville Hospital Foundation
• The New Central Public School Choir will be performing the Canadian National Anthem and a Longo's inspired song
• Students from New Central Public School's Grade 1 and 2 classes will be presenting the winning Aprons from Longo's official Apron Art Contest to the Longo's Family
• Shoppers are invited to join the tweet-up with the ultimate "Freshpert" Gus Longo, Longo's Founder, at #AskGusLongo as well as enter for giveaways with our #FRESHpertise photo contest
• Shoppers are also invited to discover the array of Longo's in-store specialty samples, including: freshly squeezed orange juice, freshly shucked oysters, live mozzarella stretching, along with a seasoned Godiva Chocolatier, who will be crafting gourmet chocolates and truffles and much, much more.

About Longo's
A family-owned Canadian organization, Longo's first opened its doors in Toronto in 1956 and now operates 22 traditional stores, 4 small format "The Market" by Longo's and GroceryGateway.com, the leader in online sales of home delivered groceries. Longo's employs more than 4,600 team members across the GTA. Inspired by their Founders and their commitment to a Fresh Tradition, the Longo's team of food experts is dedicated to exceeding customer expectations by offering the best food experience at a great value to every customer, every time by providing Fresh & Unique Offerings, Everyday Foods & Groceries, Services for Ease and Education and ideas. For more information visit longos.com.

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SOURCE: Longo's

Ginny Ao
Mansfield Communications
[email protected]
[phone] ext.236