SHERBROOKE, QC – Coinciding with the beginning of harvest season, the first store operating under the new Provigo Le Marché banner was inaugurated Thursday morning in Sherbrooke. Local elected officials, growers and vendors as well as enthusiastic customers and members of the Provigo management team were gathered in a festive atmosphere for the occasion.
The new 4,000 m2 store, located at 55 Jacques-Cartier Boulevard South (at the corner of King West), combines Provigo's rich history along with its roots originating in Sherbrooke with the innovative Provigo Le Marché concept. In addition to nearly 90 full-time and part-time jobs being created in-store, the construction project was awarded to many local businesses.
Provigo Le Marché offers an expanded range of Québec products, including hundreds of fresh and grocery products from Eastern Townships growers and food businesses. In addition to a broad assortment of fresh products, including 100 varieties of organic produce, and a wide selection of sustainable seafood, this store offers several innovative products, including beef aged in-store, smoked meat prepared in-store, bagels baked on the premises, a sushi bar, and an amazing 12 foot high wall of cheese featuring over 300 Québec cheeses. The alcoholic products aisle has the largest selection of Québec craft beers and ciders offered in a supermarket anywhere in the province. The store's new expedited checkout solution, as well as its sleek design and unique atmosphere, makes for an exceptional shopping experience.
"Our team has been hard at work for several months, and we've long dreamed of the day we'd have the pleasure to finally meet and serve our customers," said Provigo Le Marché Store Manager Guy Turcotte. "My team and I are inviting Sherbrooke residents and the many tourists visiting the region this summer to come visit us to discover our wide range of fresh products and local flavours and experience the quality service our knowledgeable staff will provide to customers."
"Provigo's purpose is to help Quebecers live life well by nourishing their joie de vivre. Our brand-new Provigo Le Marché store in Sherbrooke embodies this mission in all respects," said Pierre Dandoy, Senior Vice President, Operations, Provigo, Provigo Le Marché and LoblawsTM Québec. "It was only natural that the revival of the Provigo banner in Québec would begin in Sherbrooke, the same city that saw our co-founder and first president, Mr. Antoine Turmel, grow up."
Guy Turcotte and his team donated $2,500 each to the Fondation Rock Guertin and to the La Grande Table local charities. Respectively represented by Denis Fortier and Guillaume Tousignant, the two organizations thanked Provigo for supporting them in their community involvement and looked forward to an ongoing collaboration between Provigo Le Marché and their organizations.
Provigo also used the opening of its new store to unveil a major program of partnerships and sponsorships in the Sherbrooke area. This program includes a partnership with the University of Sherbrooke's Vert & Or, the Sherbrooke Phoenix—a Major Junior hockey team, as well as the Fête du Lac des Nations, which is currently in full swing near the Cité du Parc.
About Provigo Le Marché, a member of the Loblaw group
Provigo Le Marché™ is a member of Loblaw Companies Limited, a subsidiary of George Weston Limited, Canada's largest food retailer and a leading provider of drugstore, general merchandise and financial products and services. Provigo Le Marché™ delivers an exceptional shopping experience through knowledgeable and engaging colleagues, unmatched fresh offerings, and innovative, high quality products at good value. Among the stores' diverse offerings are a wall of cheese with hundreds of varieties, a wide assortment of seafood, organic produce, and fresh local bakery items. Customers shopping at Provigo Le Marché™ will also have access to Canada's strongest control (private) label program, including President's ChoiceTM and no nameTM brands. It also offers President's Choice Financial® Services and the PC® points.
About Provigo, a member of the Loblaw group
Provigo is a member of the Loblaw group, one of the largest private sector employers in Québec and Canada's largest food retailer. The Loblaw group employs nearly 30,000 people in the province of Québec through its 400 corporate, franchised and affiliated stores operated mainly under the Provigo®, Maxi®, Maxi & Cie®, Loblaws®, Club Entrepôt Provigo® and Les Entrepôts Presto® banners. The Loblaw group also offers Canada's strongest control (private) label program, including the President's Choice®, no name® and Joe Fresh® brands. In addition, it makes available to consumers President's Choice Financial® services and offers the PC® points loyalty program.
Image with caption: "Baguette cutting in Sherbrooke at the official inauguration of the first Provigo Le Marché banner store in Quebec. On the picture: Guy Turcotte, Provigo Le Marché Sherbrooke Store Manager, accompanied by Provigo, member of the Loblaw group management and local elected representatives. (CNW Group/Loblaw Companies Limited)".
Source: Loblaw Companies Limited
