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A proudly Canadian business, here’s how Sobeys Inc. has grown from a small meat delivery business in Stellarton, Nova Scotia to more than 1,500 stores across the country.
Scroll across to see Sobeys Inc. grow through the years to become the iconic Canadian company it is today.
2021
In March 2021, Empire acquires a 51% stake in Longo's, a long-standing, family-built network of specialty grocery stores in the GTA of Ontario, and the Grocery Gateway e-commerce business for an acquisition price of $357 million. The transaction adds 26 Longo’s store to Empire’s expanding Ontario footprint.
2022
In June 2022, Empire marks an important milestone in our loyalty and customer experience journey with announcement if its new co-ownership of Scene+ one of Canada's leading loyalty rewards programs. The new strategy to thrill, reward and connect with customers through Scene+ brings together three iconic Canadian companies to transform the Scene+ program into a preeminent loyalty program in Canada.
Today
Sobeys Inc. is a $25.1 billion company with more than 1,500 corporate and franchise stores across the country.
1800s
William Sobey, a member of Britain’s Royal engineers is stationed in Halifax where he meets and marries Janet MacIntosh of Pictou County in 1862.
1876
After returning to England, the Sobeys come back to Nova Scotia to stay — along with their seven-year-old son, John William (J.W.).
1907
After moving to Stellarton, Nova Scotia, J.W. starts a meat delivery business. With a horse-drawn cart, he purchases and collects livestock from local farmers for resale.
1924
A 16 year-old Frank H. Sobey persuades his father (J.W.) to expand the family business from meat and a few local vegetables to a full line of groceries.
1939
After 15 years, the Sobeys’ chain of stores has begun. There are now six stores in Pictou County and the surrounding counties.
1947
Eager to join the latest revolution in food distribution, Frank Sobey opens the first modern Sobeys supermarket in Atlantic Canada.
1950s and 1960s
As Sobeys continues to expand through Atlantic Canada, Frank’s three sons – Bill, David and Donald – become active in the company.
1971
Frank’s sons take over the management of the company with Bill as president, David as executive vice president and Donald heading up the growing investment company, Empire Inc.
1987
For the first time, Sobeys achieves sales of over $1 billion. This same year, Sobeys opens its first store outside of Atlantic Canada in Guelph, Ontario.
1998
Sobeys triples its size and becomes a national company when it acquires The Oshawa Group – a Toronto-based supplier to Canada’s IGA stores.
2005
With the introduction of the exclusive Compliments private label offering, Sobeys inspires Canadians with the best combination of quality, price and exceptional food experience. Today we have a line of almost 5,000 Compliments private label products.
2006
To emphasize Sobeys commitment to food and customer service, the slogan “Just add Sobeys” is introduced.
2007
Happy 100th birthday Sobeys! It’s a year of new milestones for Sobeys. The company marks its 100th anniversary and in June is taken private by majority shareholder Empire Company Limited.In September, Sobeys expands its presence in British Columbia through the acquisition of Thrifty Foods.
2008
Sobeys makes grocery shopping even more rewarding for customers, with the launch of the Club Sobeys and Club Sobeys MasterCard in its Sobeys banner stores in Ontario and Western Canada.
2009
Sobeys opens a new distribution centre in Vaughan, Ontario, the first in Canada to use a fully automated warehouse and picking technology.
2010
Sobeys redefines discount food retailing with the launch of the FreshCo discount food banner in Ontario.
2012
Sobeys grows its retail gas operations in Québec and Atlantic Canada with the purchase of Shell retail gas locations.
2013
With a mission to encourage, inspire and empower Canadians to explore the world of better food, Sobeys announces a new brand positioning, Sobeys Better Food for All, and partnership with chef and food campaigner Jamie Oliver.And in November, Sobeys becomes a leading grocer in Western Canada and #1 in the Alberta market through the acquisition of Canada Safeway. The acquired assets include full-service grocery retail locations across British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Northern Ontario; as well as fuel locations; in-store pharmacies; manufacturing facilities; liquor stores and distribution/warehouse facilities.
2014
The Sobeys Inc. Better Food Fund is launched to support access to and advancement of better food through donations and partnerships with national and regional charities.
2015
Sobeys expands the AIR MILES Reward Program to Sobeys, IGA, Thrifty Foods and Sobeys Liquor stores in Western Canada, becoming the first Canadian grocer to issue AIR MILES reward miles across the country.In August, Sobeys reshapes discount food retailing in Ontario, by introducing Chalo! FreshCo, a new store banner that provides a one-stop shopping experience catered towards South Asian customers.
2018
Sobeys announces an agreement with Ocado Group plc to bring the world’s leading online grocery ordering, automated fulfillment and home delivery solution to Canada.Built on the foundation of Sobeys’ strong history, rich family culture and deep rooted values, in July the company introduces its new purpose – We are a family nurturing families.And in December, Empire acquires Farm Boy, one of the most exciting, fastest growing and successful food retailers in Canada.
2019
In April, Sobeys expands its discount banner outside of Ontario to Western Canada, announcing the opening of the first Western FreshCo store in Mission, British Columbia.
2020
In June 2020, empire company limited introduces the future of online grocery home delivery to the greater Toronto area. Voila by Sobeys is powered by Ocado group plc’s industry-leading technology and fills orders through its state-of-the-art automated Customer Fulfillment Centre in Vaughan, Ontario. Voilà customers can shop for thousands of fresh produce and grocery products from Sobeys alongside customer favourites from Farm Boy, and health, wellness, baby, pet and beauty products from Well.ca. Voilà has since expanded to new markets in Alberta and Quebec.
2021
In March 2021, Empire acquires a 51% stake in Longo's, a long-standing, family-built network of specialty grocery stores in the GTA of Ontario, and the Grocery Gateway e-commerce business for an acquisition price of $357 million. The transaction adds 26 Longo’s store to Empire’s expanding Ontario footprint.
2022
In June 2022, Empire marks an important milestone in our loyalty and customer experience journey with announcement if its new co-ownership of Scene+ one of Canada's leading loyalty rewards programs. The new strategy to thrill, reward and connect with customers through Scene+ brings together three iconic Canadian companies to transform the Scene+ program into a preeminent loyalty program in Canada.
Today
Sobeys Inc. is a $25.1 billion company with more than 1,500 corporate and franchise stores across the country.
1800s
William Sobey, a member of Britain’s Royal engineers is stationed in Halifax where he meets and marries Janet MacIntosh of Pictou County in 1862.
1876
After returning to England, the Sobeys come back to Nova Scotia to stay — along with their seven-year-old son, John William (J.W.).
1907
After moving to Stellarton, Nova Scotia, J.W. starts a meat delivery business. With a horse-drawn cart, he purchases and collects livestock from local farmers for resale.
1924
A 16 year-old Frank H. Sobey persuades his father (J.W.) to expand the family business from meat and a few local vegetables to a full line of groceries.
1939
After 15 years, the Sobeys’ chain of stores has begun. There are now six stores in Pictou County and the surrounding counties.
1947
Eager to join the latest revolution in food distribution, Frank Sobey opens the first modern Sobeys supermarket in Atlantic Canada.
1950s and 1960s
As Sobeys continues to expand through Atlantic Canada, Frank’s three sons – Bill, David and Donald – become active in the company.
1971
Frank’s sons take over the management of the company with Bill as president, David as executive vice president and Donald heading up the growing investment company, Empire Inc.
1987
For the first time, Sobeys achieves sales of over $1 billion. This same year, Sobeys opens its first store outside of Atlantic Canada in Guelph, Ontario.
1998
Sobeys triples its size and becomes a national company when it acquires The Oshawa Group – a Toronto-based supplier to Canada’s IGA stores.
2005
With the introduction of the exclusive Compliments private label offering, Sobeys inspires Canadians with the best combination of quality, price and exceptional food experience. Today we have a line of almost 5,000 Compliments private label products.
2006
To emphasize Sobeys commitment to food and customer service, the slogan “Just add Sobeys” is introduced.
2007
Happy 100th birthday Sobeys! It’s a year of new milestones for Sobeys. The company marks its 100th anniversary and in June is taken private by majority shareholder Empire Company Limited.In September, Sobeys expands its presence in British Columbia through the acquisition of Thrifty Foods.
2008
Sobeys makes grocery shopping even more rewarding for customers, with the launch of the Club Sobeys and Club Sobeys MasterCard in its Sobeys banner stores in Ontario and Western Canada.
2009
Sobeys opens a new distribution centre in Vaughan, Ontario, the first in Canada to use a fully automated warehouse and picking technology.
2010
Sobeys redefines discount food retailing with the launch of the FreshCo discount food banner in Ontario.
2012
Sobeys grows its retail gas operations in Québec and Atlantic Canada with the purchase of Shell retail gas locations.
2013
With a mission to encourage, inspire and empower Canadians to explore the world of better food, Sobeys announces a new brand positioning, Sobeys Better Food for All, and partnership with chef and food campaigner Jamie Oliver.And in November, Sobeys becomes a leading grocer in Western Canada and #1 in the Alberta market through the acquisition of Canada Safeway. The acquired assets include full-service grocery retail locations across British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Northern Ontario; as well as fuel locations; in-store pharmacies; manufacturing facilities; liquor stores and distribution/warehouse facilities.
2014
The Sobeys Inc. Better Food Fund is launched to support access to and advancement of better food through donations and partnerships with national and regional charities.
2015
Sobeys expands the AIR MILES Reward Program to Sobeys, IGA, Thrifty Foods and Sobeys Liquor stores in Western Canada, becoming the first Canadian grocer to issue AIR MILES reward miles across the country.In August, Sobeys reshapes discount food retailing in Ontario, by introducing Chalo! FreshCo, a new store banner that provides a one-stop shopping experience catered towards South Asian customers.
2018
Sobeys announces an agreement with Ocado Group plc to bring the world’s leading online grocery ordering, automated fulfillment and home delivery solution to Canada.Built on the foundation of Sobeys’ strong history, rich family culture and deep rooted values, in July the company introduces its new purpose – We are a family nurturing families.And in December, Empire acquires Farm Boy, one of the most exciting, fastest growing and successful food retailers in Canada.
2019
In April, Sobeys expands its discount banner outside of Ontario to Western Canada, announcing the opening of the first Western FreshCo store in Mission, British Columbia.
2020
In June 2020, empire company limited introduces the future of online grocery home delivery to the greater Toronto area. Voila by Sobeys is powered by Ocado group plc’s industry-leading technology and fills orders through its state-of-the-art automated Customer Fulfillment Centre in Vaughan, Ontario. Voilà customers can shop for thousands of fresh produce and grocery products from Sobeys alongside customer favourites from Farm Boy, and health, wellness, baby, pet and beauty products from Well.ca. Voilà has since expanded to new markets in Alberta and Quebec.
2021
In March 2021, Empire acquires a 51% stake in Longo's, a long-standing, family-built network of specialty grocery stores in the GTA of Ontario, and the Grocery Gateway e-commerce business for an acquisition price of $357 million. The transaction adds 26 Longo’s store to Empire’s expanding Ontario footprint.
2022
In June 2022, Empire marks an important milestone in our loyalty and customer experience journey with announcement if its new co-ownership of Scene+ one of Canada's leading loyalty rewards programs. The new strategy to thrill, reward and connect with customers through Scene+ brings together three iconic Canadian companies to transform the Scene+ program into a preeminent loyalty program in Canada.
Today
Sobeys Inc. is a $25.1 billion company with more than 1,500 corporate and franchise stores across the country.
Read More
With the history of Sobeys Inc. comes the history of its parent company, Empire, and more. Click through to any of the pages below to gather further information about the Canadian superstore, Sobeys.
Our Stores and Businesses
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Fast Facts
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Sustainable Business Report
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