Food Basics

Food Basics Ltd. is a Canadian super chain owned by Metro Inc. The company operates over 130 stores throughout Ontario.[1]

For information about the now-defunct, formerly affiliated Food Basics in the United States, see Food Basics USA.
Food Basics Ltd.
Supermarket
IndustryRetail
Founded1995
HeadquartersToronto, Ontario,
Canada
Number of locations
115+[1]
ProductsFood, General merchandise (non-food)
ParentA&P Canada (1995–2005)
Metro Inc. (2005–present)
Websitewww.foodbasics.ca

History

Food Basics was created by A&P Canada to compete with the successful No Frills warehouse-style supermarket operated by Loblaw Companies. It became part of the Metro group when A&P Canada was sold to Metro in 2005.

Food Basics lowers its prices in a number of ways: low maintenance (no free plastic bags, just free cardboard boxes), store decor is kept to a minimum and fewer staff are employed, mostly in part-time positions. The chain operates by pushing higher volumes on a limited selection of products than Metro stores allowing it to compete price-wise with other grocery stores. There are 117 locations in Ontario. 36 were franchise stores until Metro Inc. purchased all stores back by the end of 2008.

Some Food Basics feature a pharmacy known as Drug Basics.

Some locations are former Super Fresh or A&P supermarkets, dating from when both chains were operated by A&P,[2] or formerly bore banners such as A&P-owned Dominion or Métro-owned Super C.

In the past, the owners' names appeared on the banner (e.g., 'John/Jane's Food Basics'); however, all stores are now simply called 'Food Basics'. Concurrent with this change is a different slogan, which was changed from "Best Prices Everyday!!!" to "Always more for less!"

In Fall 2006, Metro Inc. began to renovate Food Basics stores. The design and format of these new stores closely resemble Metro's Super C banner in Quebec. New store signs feature broken lettering and a larger emphasis on yellow, green and beige colours. In Spring 2007, Metro Inc. initiated their new BDMS inventory system into all of its warehouses.

A Food Basics store in Toronto.
A Food Basics store in Markham.

Labour relations

Food Basics is represented by the United Food and Commercial Workers union. Food Basics mostly offers part-time positions, and each store has few full-time positions. In 2015, Overnight positions were discontinued by most stores because of budget reasons.

Locations

Ontario

133 locations:

Private label brands

Food Basics carries many products from Metro's private label brands:

  • "Irresistibles": premium quality products
  • "Selection": regular store-brand products
  • "Simply 1-2-3": low-price health and beauty products
  • "Simply Kids": baby products including diapers, baby food and other baby products
  • "Great Basics Finds": ready-to-assemble furniture, clothing, housewares and other seasonal items that are specially priced, available in limited quantities, for a limited time

Previous private label brands
  • "Master Choice": premium quality products.
  • "Equality": regular store-brand products.
  • "Basics for Less": large economy-sized products.
  • "The Baker's Oven": bakery products

See also

References
  1. "More about us". Food Basics. Retrieved 2016-07-21.
  2. HighBeam A&P Canada begins store conversions. (Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company Inc.)

Sources
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