The retail grocery selection for shoppers has just increased in Hawkesbury.
On Thursday, August 14, the new Food Basics supermarket officially opened in the shopping centre near the intersection of Tupper Street and County Road 17.
Shoppers were already lined up outside the store at 7:30 am, hoping to be among the first customers at the new store.
Food Basics is the value format store in Ontario of Metro and is similar to the company’s Super C stores in Québec.
Food Basics Vice President of Operations John Manax said the Hawkesbury store is the 149th location added to the chain in Ontario and the brand is celebrating its 30th anniversary in the province this year. Manax said that three years have passed since the beginning of planning to opening day.
“We work with developers through mutual agreements,” he said.
The developer of the Food Basics site in Hawkesbury is Groupe Harden, based in Vaudreuil-Dorion. Hawkesbury Mayor Robert Lefebvre specifically thanked President William Harden for cooperation on the project.
Glengarry-Prescott-Russell Member of Provincial Parliament Stéphane Sarrazin delivered brief congratulatory remarks and noted the addition of a new grocery store in Hawkesbury gives more options for consumers. He also noted that another new Food Basics store is to open in Embrun in September.
Manax said that ever since Food Basics began planning the new store in Hawkesbury, it became interested in contributing to the local food bank. At the opening of the new store, the company presented a donation of $5,000 to the Hawkesbury Central Food Bank.
“We were not expecting that,” said Food Bank President Jeanne Charlebois.
The new Food Basics store in Hawkesbury has an area of 32,000 square feet and has around 100 full-time and part-time employees. Chris Williams is the store manager. The store offers a full range of groceries, fresh produce, meat department, baked goods, dairy, and frozen food.
Manax said customers are seeking more value in their grocery shopping experience.
“Discount chains like ours are in demand in Ontario,” he said.
Local products are for sale at the new Food Basics in Hawkesbury. Those include Gibbs Honey and Cassburn Sweets maple sugar products from Vankleek Hill and cheese from St-Albert.
Andrea Glenn of Gibbs Honey said Food Basics management contacted her, expressing interest in selling the local honey products.
In addition to selling major national brands, private label brands at Food Basics include Selection and Irresistibles.
Food Basics in Hawkesbury is open seven days a week from 8 am until 9 pm.
Photos: James Morgan
