A growing Canadian grocery chain has its eye on Flin Flon, but nothing appears set in stone.
Save-On-Foods operates 140 stores across western Canada, including three that opened in Winnipeg last week.
In an interview with the Winnipeg Free Press, Save-On-Foods president Darrell Jones said the company is interested in opening new stores in rural Manitoba centres that have 10,000 or more people. He specifically named Flin Flon, Steinbach and Brandon.
The article did not indicate how strong the company’s level of interest may be, nor did it suggest when stores in those three communities may open.
Save-On-Foods has not made any formal announcement about coming to Flin Flon. The Reminder sought further comment from the Vancouver-based chain on Monday, but as of press time had not
heard back.
There is seemingly no guarantee that Jones’ comment will translate into a store for Flin Flon. Over the years, several other well-known chains, such as Robin’s Donuts and Tim Hortons, have indicated they were interested in coming to
Flin Flon – with nothing ever materializing.
Flin Flon itself may not meet the 10,000-person threshold cited by Jones, but the community has a drawing area of more than 15,000 people.
In the Free Press interview, Jones said the new Winnipeg stores will offer customers a diverse selection of food. He vowed to open at least nine more outlets in Winnipeg, including three or four by 2019.
The Winnipeg stores range in size from 37,000 to 65,000 square feet.
