Introduction
With BC’s largest company fishing fleet, a vast wholesale distribution and support division and leading retail grocers we are Western Canada’s leading food and consumer goods organization.
Since its beginnings as a single grocery store in New Westminster, BC in 1915, the Overwaitea Food Group has brought customers the products and services they’re looking for, while delivering value in unique and effective ways.
In the early days, the store gained a reputation for offering a distinctive combination of personalized service, eye-catching promotions, inventive merchandising techniques and value-added service, such as selling 18 ounces of tea for the price of 16. Impressed by the novel idea of receiving 2 free ounces of tea with their purchase, customers dubbed it the “Over-weight-tea” store and so began Overwaitea Food Group’s renowned tradition of providing more for less.
These practices set the foundation for Canada’s largest western-based food store chain and established traditions that have positioned the company’s philosophy of delivering great prices, products and services, all designed with the needs of customers in mind.
While 117 stores across British Columbia (BC) and Alberta (AB) carry on the legacy of serving up Simply the Best experience for customers, the Overwaitea Food Group’s mission remains rooted in the operating hallmarks of personal service, innovation and delivering value.
Service, People, Innovation, Fun and Integrity are core values embraced by OFG team members, all focused on running Simply the Best stores and delivering innovative ways to help customers get more value for their money.
The organization’s competitive edge is its highly successful multi-banner approach. OFG serves over 80 communities with six different store formats – Save-On-Foods, Overwaitea Foods, PriceSmart Foods, Cooper’s Foods, Urban Fare and Bulkley Valley Wholesale. Each store is designed to match the needs of the communities they serve, offering a unique shopping experience and unparalleled value in an environment that is welcoming to every customer.
A Part of the Community
Throughout its history the company has incorporated social and environmental stewardship as an integral part of doing business. And when OFG believes in a worthy cause, it puts the weight of the entire company behind it to make positive change happen.
OFG proudly leads the industry as the number one supporter of local suppliers, producers and growers, working with over 1,200 British Columbians and Albertans to bring thousands of locally-produced items to market. OFG also takes part in community-based programs that educate kids and families on health and nutrition, and supports the BC School Fruit and Vegetable Nutrition Program, through which kids receive fresh local fruits and vegetables in the classroom.
OFG’s Green Team is responsible for setting, measuring and implementing innovative solutions to help bring about meaningful positive change for the environment, and for the business overall. The organization has a long-term, award-winning commitment to reducing its environmental footprint with greener packaging, comprehensive recycling programs and through its holistic approach to energy management and sustainable store designs, yielding considerable cost savings that can be passed on to consumers.
Every member of the OFG team plays a critical role in the success of the business and OFG demonstrates its commitment to team member education through its Food Group University. The first of its kind in the Canadian food retail industry, this program offers training and educational initiatives to OFG team members who are interested in advancing their careers in the grocery industry. To date, nearly 2,000 graduates have successfully completed Food Group University courses.
With one of the longest serving team member bases in the industry, in 2008, over 1,300 OFG team members from across the organization were recognized for nearly 20,000 collective years of dedicated service.
Nearly a century after the first “Over-weight-tea” store began its tradition of offering exceptional value to customers, OFG is focused on delivering world-class products and services and the best experience in every store.