Buy-Low Foods has confirmed that it has bought Safety Mart in Clearwater.
“In answer to your question, yes, we can now confirm that Buy-Low Foods has purchased the business operations of the Safety Mart AG Foods store in Clearwater, B.C.,” said Sam Corea, director of retail operations for Buy-Low Foods and Nesters Market.
“Buy-Low Foods is a private company and for that reason, as well as the terms of our agreement, the details of the purchase will not be disclosed,” he added.
Corea said that the people at Buy Low are excited with this latest addition to their company.
He noted that, except for the previous owners, the management team and all employees would continue at the location. The people at Buy-Low view the people at Safety Mart as being their greatest link to customer service, he said.
“The store has exceptional staff and we welcome all 56+ employees to the Buy-Low Foods family,” Corea said.
The staff and management team of the store have been asked to continue to offer a high level of service, quality and good value to customers, the Buy-Low spokesperson said.
“Although we don’t plan to make any significant changes to the stores operations immediately, change is a natural occurrence and an ongoing process that evolves every-day regardless of who owns the business,’ Corea told the Times. “As we go forward, we will be talking with and listening to our people and our customers to understand how we can better serve the residents of Clearwater and surrounding areas.”
Corea said that Buy-Low Foods believes strongly in being involved with the community it serves and that they look forward to becoming a valued member of the Clearwater community and serving the community’s needs for many years to come.
B.C.-based Buy-Low Foods is part of the Pattison Group. The group purchased the company in 1995.
Together with its division, Associated Grocers of Calgary, Buy-Low supplies over 900 locations in Western Canada.
Associated Grocers has been the principal supplier to Safety Mart for many years.
AG Foods is a program within Associated Grocers.
Ralph Sunderman and Ken Kjenstad established safety Mart in Clearwater in the early 1970s.
The previous owners, Rob Sunderman, Wade Elliott and Kelvin Arndt, took over from them and owned the business for nearly 20 years, from the early 1990s until the end of last month.
The store is the only supermarket in Clearwater and one of the town's major employers.