Favourite food store diversifies

The Centex Market has fresh fruit, veggies, bread made on site and specialty foods—and you can get fuel there, too

by
Jill Bentley-Lobban is the face of the Kimberley Centex market

Jill Bentley-Lobban has just added baked-on-the-premises bread to her product line at the Kimberley Centex market. — Photo courtesy Jill Bentley-Lobban

There’s always something interesting and delicious going on at the Kimberley Centex fuel station and market, and since we last did a story about it, the owners have made some important additions. Pat Bentley talked to us about the recent changes that her daughter, Jill Bentley-Lobban, has brought to the store.

Did you have a busy summer?

We were up to more than 30 staff at one point, which in itself is a challenge.

What did you need all those people for?

Jill has put a bakery into the store so we can produce our own fresh, healthy bread with no additives, and we’re getting lots of positive feedback from our customers about that.

Your place is always so busy—why the expansion?

Jill’s focus has always been good customer service. She especially likes to find those rare products that customers want. For example, she has brought in cricket flour bars for those customers who are interested in this growing trend and she is also putting in a juice bar that will hopefully be on the go by the beginning of October. She has a cold-press juicer, a wheatgrass juicer and centrifuge juicers.

What does your busy daughter do when she has some free time?

Her passion outside of work is her animals—her dogs and horses.

Marie Milner

Marie Milner is a writer and photographer for Kootenay Business magazine and several other publications. She appreciates the inspiration that she gets during her interviews and hopes to share that inspiration with you. View all of Marie Milner’s articles

Related articles

West Kootenay, Grand Forks, Cuisine, Entertainment and Hospitality, Small Business, Tourism Finally, the perfect thyme and the right plate

Taking home four golds from our Best Places to Eat and Drink Awards, The Thyme and Plate is a cut above the rest—and they’ve only been open for nine months.

by
East Kootenay, Fernie, Cuisine, Entertainment and Hospitality, Small Business, Tourism Line up to get your Mugshots

This cafe is serving up a different kind of mugshots in Fernie, B.C. You won’t mind standing in a lineup for these.

by
West Kootenay, Castlegar, Slocan, Cuisine, Entertainment and Hospitality, Small Business, Tourism This Winlaw bakery is worth driving for

Nicholas and Wendy Fominoff have set their family’s bakery apart with their handmade treats and lunches. Here is what makes their place so special.

by

Comments