Whether itB次元官网网址檚 stocking aisles with locally sourced Vancouver Island products or simply keeping the public Wi-Fi signal strong, it all comes down to the fine details for one Saanich grocery retailer.
But itB次元官网网址檚 the people behind the operation thatB次元官网网址檚 kept independently owned PepperB次元官网网址檚 Foods, tucked away in quiet Cadboro Bay village, in business for 60 years.
Last month the Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers (CFIG) hosted its annual awards in Toronto, Ont. with PepperB次元官网网址檚 Foods taking home the bronze Independent Grocer of the Year small surface award B次元官网网址� the category for all Canadian grocery stores under 15,000 square feet.
PepperB次元官网网址檚 Foods also picked up the regional small surface award as the top-scoring store in British Columbia and Yukon for the second year in a row, which once again placed the 4,000 square-foot grocery store in contention for the national award.
B次元官网网址淭he biggest thing for us is weB次元官网网址檙e going up against stores that are 15,000 square feet, three times the size of us,B次元官网网址� Cory Davits, PepperB次元官网网址檚 Foods general manager, told Black Press Media. B次元官网网址淎nd weB次元官网网址檙e doing OK.B次元官网网址�
CFIG, a non-profit trade association, evaluates each member store across the country on customer service, staff and department management, store layout, cleanliness, creativity, merchandising and community involvement.
From the storeB次元官网网址檚 variety to the cleanliness of its washrooms, and even the B次元官网网址渁ppearance of the store when you first pull up,B次元官网网址� Davits says every single aspect of the grocery store is important.
But for Davits, nothing is more important than the dedicated and hospitable staff at PepperB次元官网网址檚 Foods, who he credits with keeping the store running like a B次元官网网址渇inely tuned machine.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淚 really have to give it to the staff, we couldnB次元官网网址檛 do it without them,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭hey have the magic touch.B次元官网网址�
Across town, Country GrocerB次元官网网址檚 store in Royal Oak won the bronze national award in the medium surface category B次元官网网址� 15,000 to 25,000 square feet B次元官网网址� as well as the top prize for the medium surface category in the B.C. and Yukon region.
ALSO READ:
ALSO READ:
Do you have a story tip? Email: austin.westphal@saanichnews.com.
Follow us on and and like us on
