A trusted Canadian grocery chain offering fresh produce, quality meats, and everyday essentials with friendly neighbourhood service.
Sobeys is one of Canada's two dominant grocery chains, operating since 1907 from its roots in Stellarton, Nova Scotia. The company is the wholly-owned subsidiary of Empire Company Limited, a family-founded enterprise with over a century of experience in Canadian food retailing. What began as a small meat delivery business in a Nova Scotia mining town has grown into a national operation with over 1,500 stores across Canada under multiple banners including Sobeys, Safeway, FreshCo, Farm Boy, Foodland, IGA, and Thrifty Foods.
Sobeys stores are full-service grocery retailers positioned as a premium alternative to discount chains. The stores emphasize fresh departments — produce, meat, bakery, deli, and seafood — with a focus on quality that distinguishes them from no-frills competitors. Many locations feature in-store pharmacies, floral departments, and prepared food sections. Sobeys has invested in its fresh food credentials, offering a shopping experience centred on quality ingredients for customers who care about what they're cooking.
Empire Company operates Sobeys alongside a portfolio of regional grocery banners, each serving different markets and price points. Safeway covers Western Canada, FreshCo targets the value-conscious shopper, Farm Boy offers a premium specialty food experience in Ontario, IGA serves the Quebec market, and Foodland operates in smaller communities across Atlantic Canada and Ontario. This multi-banner strategy allows the company to serve diverse customer needs across the country.
Sobeys operates stores in every province across Canada, supported by a network of distribution centres and a growing e-commerce presence through the Voilà online grocery delivery service. The company employs over 130,000 people, making it one of Canada's largest private-sector employers. For Canadian families, Sobeys has been a trusted grocery destination for over a century, delivering quality food and community presence from coast to coast.