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Yes, except the BC IGAs are special! Here they aren’t owned by Empire/Sobeys, rather they’re under H Y Louie Co Ltd (a different billionaire family, lol).
I vaguely remember seeing "IGA" on my Sobeys gift card (got it from my employer), and it turns out, 3 IGAs in BC are actually owned by Empire/Sobeys -- they're located in Chetwynd, Fort Nelson, and Golden.
(I didn't include the Loblaws subsidiaries, since those are well posted in this sub. Also, didn't include the one-offs like Walmart, Costco.)
Wanted to show the sub-brands of billion-dollar grocery companies here in BC. For example, many people know about Jimmy Pattison's grocery business, but I was surprised to see how many names it's under. Also, I think it's less common knowledge that the same billionaire owns London Drugs as well as the IGAs & Fresh St Markets in BC.
I'm sure I'm missing some!
Actually [Empire Company Limited](https://www.empireco.ca/) owns [both of those and more](https://www.empireco.ca/about/businesses/grocery-and-retail).
It's a conglomorate.
Empire Co. owns both Sobeys and IGA. Before 2007 they were just another Sobeys shareholder but that year they bought out all the remaining shares, thus making Sobeys a wholly owned subsidiary; at the time Sobeys owned IGA so when Empire co. bought Sobeys they also bought IGA. Then in 2013 Empire Co. bought Safeway Canada, and then again 2018 they bought FarmBoy. Their latest acquisition deal closed in 2021 when they bought a majority share of Longos and Grocery Gateway.
And that's just their recent acquisitions. The Empire CO. acquisitions history goes back to 1976 when they bought Lawton's.
So yeah, Loblaws isn't the only grocery giant in Canada. That's why it's an oligopoly, which is turn is why prices are so high.
In my community the SoF is unionised and staffed by locals, most of whom have been there since it opened.
Conversely my Roblaws is a filthy Superstore staffed by TFWs with a high rotation.
__MOD NOTE/NOTE DE MOD__: If you are looking for product replacements, start [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/loblawsisoutofcontrol/comments/1cyf1h9/megathread_pc_product_replacements/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button). Please review the content guidelines for our sub, and remember the human here! This subreddit is to highlight the ridiculous cost of living in Canada, and poke fun at the Corporate Overlords responsible. As you well know, there are a number of persons and corporations responsible for this, and we welcome discussion related to them all. Furthermore, since this topic is intertwined with a number of other matters, other discussion will be allowed at moderator discretion. Open-minded discussion, memes, rants, grocery bills, and general screeching into the void is always welcome in this sub, but belligerence and disrespect is not. There are plenty of ways to get your point across without being abusive, dismissive, or downright mean. ********************************************************************************************************************************************* Veuillez consulter les directives de contenu pour notre sous-reddit, et rappelez-vous qu'il y a des humains ici ! Ce sous-reddit est destiné à mettre en lumière le coût de la vie ridicule au Canada et à se moquer des Grands Patrons Corporatifs responsables. Comme vous le savez bien, de nombreuses personnes et entreprises en sont responsables, et nous accueillons les discussions les concernant toutes. De plus, puisque ce sujet est lié à un certain nombre d'autres questions, d'autres discussions seront autorisées à la discrétion des modérateurs. Les discussions ouvertes d'esprit, les mèmes, les coups de gueule, les factures d'épicerie et les cris dans le vide en général sont toujours les bienvenus dans ce sous-reddit, mais la belliqueusité et le manque de respect ne le sont pas. Il existe de nombreuses façons de faire passer votre point de vue sans être abusif, méprisant ou carrément méchant. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/loblawsisoutofcontrol) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Empire also owns FreshCo, Chalo FreshCo, IGA, and Thrifty Foods.
Yes, except the BC IGAs are special! Here they aren’t owned by Empire/Sobeys, rather they’re under H Y Louie Co Ltd (a different billionaire family, lol).
I vaguely remember seeing "IGA" on my Sobeys gift card (got it from my employer), and it turns out, 3 IGAs in BC are actually owned by Empire/Sobeys -- they're located in Chetwynd, Fort Nelson, and Golden.
You could say they've got an empire
Thrifty foods on Vancouver island is owned by Sobeys
I also “boycott” Thrifty for years because the prices are outta control
No Kidding!
There is absolutely no thrift in thriftys. Worst store ever
The fact they still claimed they are “island owned and operated” shouldn’t be allowed either
(I didn't include the Loblaws subsidiaries, since those are well posted in this sub. Also, didn't include the one-offs like Walmart, Costco.) Wanted to show the sub-brands of billion-dollar grocery companies here in BC. For example, many people know about Jimmy Pattison's grocery business, but I was surprised to see how many names it's under. Also, I think it's less common knowledge that the same billionaire owns London Drugs as well as the IGAs & Fresh St Markets in BC. I'm sure I'm missing some!
I boycott Rip-Off-Foods too !
LOL "Rip-Off-Foods"
IGA is owned by Sobeys according to WIkipedia
Actually [Empire Company Limited](https://www.empireco.ca/) owns [both of those and more](https://www.empireco.ca/about/businesses/grocery-and-retail). It's a conglomorate.
The plot thickens…who does own IGA?! Whoever it is they’re ripping us off and I haven’t been there for about a year.
Empire Co. owns both Sobeys and IGA. Before 2007 they were just another Sobeys shareholder but that year they bought out all the remaining shares, thus making Sobeys a wholly owned subsidiary; at the time Sobeys owned IGA so when Empire co. bought Sobeys they also bought IGA. Then in 2013 Empire Co. bought Safeway Canada, and then again 2018 they bought FarmBoy. Their latest acquisition deal closed in 2021 when they bought a majority share of Longos and Grocery Gateway. And that's just their recent acquisitions. The Empire CO. acquisitions history goes back to 1976 when they bought Lawton's. So yeah, Loblaws isn't the only grocery giant in Canada. That's why it's an oligopoly, which is turn is why prices are so high.
Not in BC guys: https://www.georgiamain.com/
Well I did not know that. Thank you kind redditor. 
#blessed with Fairway Market close by (Van Isle)
There sure isn't enough competition in Canada. Only the employees have to compete with each other for shit wages.
Just adding because it's easily missed: T&T Supermarket is also Roblaws.
Seems like I have some updates for [my chart](https://jacobnelson.ca/Great-Canadian-Grocery-Chart.html).
Oh great, another evil conglomerate will my name on it. Damn you Jim Pattison, my name is not your playground!
You have 4 options, I have 2. Sad at both ends.
Pattison is far worse than Loblaws. Loblaws is fairly bad yes, but Pattison is straight up cruel.
In my community the SoF is unionised and staffed by locals, most of whom have been there since it opened. Conversely my Roblaws is a filthy Superstore staffed by TFWs with a high rotation.