Organic food lovers are hoping Whole Foods Market will enter Winnipeg's grocery wars.
The U.S.-based giant of organic and natural foods has confirmed that it's looking to expand significantly in Canada with 40 stores, but it hasn't confirmed anything outside of Toronto and Vancouver.
Company spokesman Keith Stewart says Whole Foods is always on the lookout for new markets: " We're flattered any time a community comes and asks us to open a store."
The push to convince Whole Foods to come to Winnipeg is reaching Ikea-like proportions. The Swedish furniture maker finally opened up a Winnipeg store last winter after two decades of rumours.
In fact, the latest rumour making the rounds is that the owners of the Seasons of Tuxedo development, which houses Ikea, have approached Whole Foods about moving into the neighbourhood.
Derrick Chartier, president of CBRE Winnipeg and the leasing agent for Seasons, wouldn't confirm any negotiations but said any number of developers in the city would be eager to add Whole Foods as a tenant.
"Would the owners of Seasons of Tuxedo be interested in having a tenant like Whole Foods? They certainly would be very happy with that," he said. "In our opinion, it would be a great fit."
The grocery landscape is about to change significantly in Winnipeg and across Western Canada once the multibillion-dollar takeover of Canada Safeway by Sobeys Inc. is approved.
– Compiled by Geoff Kirbyson
from Western Investor October 2013
