New Marpole Safeway focuses on Buying Local

VANCOUVER, Dec. 13, 2013 /CNW/ - Safeway today opened the new Marpole store located at 8475 Granville Street, Vancouver.  Introducing the newest design features for an extraordinary grocery shopping experience, the Marpole Safeway provides a focus on local and organic natural selections in every department.  There are over 1,600 items throughout the store tagged with the Buy BC Food labels to help consumers more easily identify and purchase food grown, harvested and processed in British Columbia.

"We recognize that Metro Vancouver grocery shoppers are seeking healthy meal solutions, locally produced products and items that address a wide range of dietary health concerns and the Marpole Safeway has been specifically designed with the consumer in mind," said Mike Nash, Vice President, Safeway Operations.  "We are excited to be open in this community and our 160 employees are ready to once again serve our customers in the Marpole area," continued Nash.

The new 53,132 square foot store has expanded premium offerings including;

• Authentic Asian products in every department and every aisle, in store made sushi and dim sum.
• European style deli offering restaurant quality meal solutions, locally produced specialty meats and cheeses and a cheese grating station.
• Full service meat department featuring AAA grain fed and hand selected Canadian Beef and fresh sustainable seafood offerings.
• Fresh produce department with over 120 organic items.
• The in store Pharmacy has been expanded to provide a private area for patient consultation and immunizations.

The new environmentally friendly design of the store is LEED Silver Certifiable with a green rooftop, energy efficient equipment and a commitment to maximize store waste diversion through composting, cardboard recycling and plastic bag recycling facilities.

The Marpole Safeway is open seven days a week between 7:00am and midnight and provides 134 underground parking stalls for Safeway customers.

About Sobeys Inc.

Proudly Canadian, with headquarters in Stellarton, Nova Scotia, Sobeys has been serving the food shopping needs of Canadians for 106 years. A wholly-owned subsidiary of Empire Company Limited (TSX:EMP.A), Sobeys owns or franchises more than 1,500 stores in all 10 provinces under retail banners that include Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, Foodland, FreshCo, Thrifty Foods, and Lawton's Drug Stores as well as more than 330 retail fuel locations. Sobeys and its franchise affiliates employ more than 124,000 people. The company's goal is to be widely recognized as the best food retailer and workplace environment in Canada.  Sobeys Inc. operates 223 stores under the Safeway banner across Western Canada.  More information on Sobeys Inc. can be found at www.sobeyscorporate.com.

SOURCE: Canada Safeway Limited

CONTACT: Mary D'astolfo, 604-601-2646, Email:  [email protected]