Thrifty Foods

Thrifty Foods is a chain of supermarkets located in British Columbia, Canada. It was founded by Alex Campbell and Ernie Skinner in 1977 when the first store was opened in Victoria’s Fairfield neighbourhood. As of August 2008, the chain operates 21 stores. It is the largest supermarket chain on Vancouver Island. In 2007 it became a division of Sobeys Inc. which operates independently of the larger company. Sobeys purchased the chain from founder Alex Campbell for CDN$260 million.
There are four Thrifty Foods locations in the Greater Vancouver area,with two more locations opening by the end of 2010 in North Vancouver ,and Abbotsford (in Tsawwassen, Coquitlam, South Surrey and Port Moody), one store on Saltspring Island, and the remainder of the stores are on Vancouver Island. The company’s main head office and distribution centre is located in Central Saanich, British Columbia, a suburb of Greater Victoria.
The company has an annual scholarship program that gives out $1500 to 20 students that are part of the company’s web, either directly or indirectly.
Thrifty Foods is the largest private employer on Vancouver Island. In 1999, Thrifty Foods was voted among the Ten Best Companies to Work For in British Columbia. In 2007, Thrifty Foods was recognized as one of Canada’s 50 Best Managed Companies.

Festival is grateful to Thrifty Foods for contributing platters of food for special events each year. Thrifty Food’s generosity contributes significantly to the success of Festival and to the opportunity for so many young performers to reach audiences and showcase their talent.