QUALICUM BEACH — Businessman and owner of grocery stores such as Overwaitea and Save-On-Foods, Jim Pattison, has entered into a partnership with the owners of Errington-based Quality Foods.
Quality Foods' director of operations Ken Schley said he and the other two founding partners in Quality Foods — John Briuolo and Noel Hayward — will retain control of their company under this new partnership with Pattison.
"We are proud of our reputation locally and across Canada as the retail innovator, and we are proud to announce today a fantastic new partnership with B.C.'s very own and one of Canada's best entrepreneurs, Mr. Jimmy Pattison," said Schley in a media release.
"What this does for Quality Foods is allow us to now concentrate on what would otherwise be insurmountable opportunities," he said.
Quality Foods began as a single store in Qualicum Beach in 1982. Today, the chain of grocery stores employs nearly 1,000 people in 11 stores on Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast. QF operates stores in Comox and Courtenay.
"We have had a remarkable 30 years of being an Island-based independent grocer, and we are very excited about our continued growth and innovation for the next 30 years," Schley said.
In recent years, the three partners have not only improved on their grocery store business, but have branched out into other areas, apart from the QF empire — including the purchase of the Old Dutch Inn in Qualicum Beach. They have also invested in other properties — including the site of the former Qualicum Beach Resort Hotel.
Earlier this month, ICR Projects on behalf of the owner of the Parksville Shopping Centre, announced plans to build a new grocery store to house an expanded Save-On-Foods. Those plans are currently with the City of Parksville for approvals. The city is also home to another QF grocery store.
"We have created a way to secure and invest in our future with B.C.'s most well-known and highly respected businessman, Mr. Jimmy Pattison," said Schley at the company's annual meeting last Thursday night.
"We chose this direction to keep the integrity of the QF culture and philosophy that our people have built over the last 30 years," added partner John Briuolo in a media release.
Partner Noel Hayward added the addition of the new investor is a "great kick-start" to QF's 30th anniversary year in 2012.
"We are very fortunate to have found an investor that shares our strategic vision for the future," stated Hayward. "This provides long-term security and growth, which in turn creates opportunities."
In addition to the Pattison announcement, the QF ownership team said they will soon launch a new, fully-integrated online shopping, app and social media web presence to an "eagerly waiting customer base."
New renovations for some of their existing stores are soon to be announced, and even some new stores in communities where they have yet to build.
"All of this comes in a highly competitive time and market," said Schley, "and we feel the future has never looked brighter for our company, our QF people and especially our loyal customers."
— With files from Neil Horner and Steven Heywood