Re-branded Extra Foods now Pealow’s Independent Grocer in Creston

There are currently about a dozen Your Independent Grocer franchise stores in western Canada.

Formerly known as Extra Foods, the store in Creston has now been rebranded as Pealow's Independent Grocer. — Photo courtesy Kootenay Business

Brian and Julie Pealow are the new owners of the Loblaw’s franchise in Creston, now called Pealow’s Independent Grocer. The newly re-branded grocery store was formerly known as Extra Foods.

With over 100 employees the grocery retailer is one of Creston largest employers. The Pealow’s come from Ontario and they recently moved to the Creston Valley.

Your Independent Grocer is a supermarket chain, a unit of National Grocers, which is an operating division of Loblaw Companies, one of Canada’s largest food distributors. The stores are typically operated by a franchise owner, such as the Pealow’s in Creston.

Typical product lines include: bakery, dairy, deli, frozen foods, gardening centre, general grocery, general merchandise, meat & poultry, pharmacy, photo lab, produce, seafood, and snack items.

There are currently about a dozen Your Independent Grocer franchise stores in western Canada. Ann Zweerink, in Fernie, operates Anne’s Independent Grocer  — the Fernie store was re-branded several years ago.

Loblaw's is evidently looking to grow the Independent Grocer brand throughout western Canada, building on its popularity in Ontario.