Terry Farrell
Record staff
It’s getting to be as consistent as tulips in spring.
For the eighth straight year, Vancouver Island grocer Quality Foods has been selected as one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies and retains its prestigious accreditation as a Best Managed Platinum member in 2014.
Best Managed has recognized world-class Canadian businesses since 1993 and has become one of the nation’s elite business awards programs. The Platinum Club is the highest ranking available, reserved for companies that have maintained their Best Managed status for seven years or more.
“We’re thrilled,” said Ken Schley, Quality Foods’ director of operations and founding partner. “Platinum membership means we are continuing to adapt and grow in changing environments, and that we have been able to stay in pretty good company for an extended period of time. We’re proud of this designation and we know that being recognized in this way means a lot to all of our QF people and to our customers.”
Kyle Hudson is the grocery manager at the Courtenay Quality Foods, and he says it’s a reflection of the company as a whole and an honour for every employee.
“It’s a good morale booster for all our staff,” he said. “This award can be attributed to all the hard work and dedication from our staff. They all take ownership and work well together as a team.”
Quality Foods is a pillar of the Comox Valley community and their involvement with the community is evident, as sponsors at numerous events every year, as well as their ongoing support of the Comox Valley Food Bank.
“We try to do as much as we can in the community, as far as donations go for groups and organizations,” said Hudson, who has been with Quality Foods for 15 years. “We get tremendous customer response for promotions we do inside the store for the community, like the Campbell Soup program. Things like that go over really well.”
Throughout the month of December, Quality Foods ran a promotion that for every five cans of Campbell’s Soup bought by customers, Campbell’s would donate one to the food bank.
In January, Quality Foods handed over 720 cans of Campbell’s Soup to the Comox Valley Food Bank.
“Quality Foods is a very important partner for the Comox Valley Food Bank,” said CVFB president Jeff Hampton. “Their contributions are amazing – not just with the soup promotion, but with the ongoing food bank hamper program that runs throughout the year. We are very fortunate to have a Quality Foods in our community.”
Quality Foods is an independent grocer operating 12 stores on Vancouver Island and Powell River.