Fernie’s Extra Foods re-branded as Ann’s—Your Independent Grocer

The old Extra Foods gets a new name and new face in Fernie.

The newly re-branded Extra Foods store in Fernie sees a new layout, new products and new name. — Photo courtesy Kootenay Business

A newly re-branded grocery store is now in Fernie, with a bigger product line up and additional job opportunities for the community.

It is called Ann’s—Your Independent Grocer and is located on 1792a 9th Avenue in the old Extra Foods location, next to Canadian Tire.

The store is a re-branding of Extra Foods and is still owned and operated by Canada’s food distributing giant Loblaws, but with substantial differences from the previous store. “We have more than 250 premium fresh products that have been added to our store,” said Ann Zweerink, the store's owner in an interview with the local radio station, “Our store now offers a full service bakery, expanded deli, massive natural value section and we also have an in-store butcher.”

Owner Ann Zweerink has been in Fernie for a dozen years and has been with Loblaws for many more years. “I have worked for Loblaws for 25 years, I have been in Fernie for 12 and I have been in the previous Extra Foods for those 12 years,” Zweerink told the interviewer, “I’m excited for the new opportunity to run the new banner and it’s going to be a great opportunity for Fernie.”

The larger store means more employees.  Almost 30 new positions have been added as part of the re-branding and expansion. “We have added quite a few faces to our team and we are looking to add more still,” concluded Zweerink, “we’ve built quite the team inside the store and I think we have a great team that is going to service our customers day in and day out.”

The store is 40,000 square feet and will be open every day from 8:00 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Source: The Drive News