A B.C.-based grocery store is celebrating a major industry award, and it’s been a long time coming for the veteran grocer in charge.
The Canadian Independent Grocer of the Year Awards were recently presented, and Fresh St. Market Walnut Grove was crowned the best medium-sized independent grocery store in the country.
The Langley store located at The Village at Thunderbird Centre won gold in the Medium Surface Category, as well as the British Columbia/Yukon Regional Medium award.
Fresh St. Market
“The judges saw what our customers see every day: a store where our team takes pride in making food exciting with fresh and innovative offerings in every department,” said Charlie Lee, Fresh St. Market Walnut Grove’s Store Leader, in a release.
“I started in this business at 10 years old in Fort Langley, and it gives me enormous pride to still be serving people in our community. This award belongs to our 140 team members and to the Langley customers who’ve supported us for years.”
Lee began working as a youth in his family’s IGA store in Fort Langley, which was converted into a Fresh St. Market in 2022. This year marks his 20th anniversary as leader of the Walnut Grove location.
“Charlie started in grocery at 10 years old, and this national gold award reflects what he and his Walnut Grove team have built for Langley,” added Palle Knudsen, Vice President, Retail Operations and Marketing at Fresh St. Market, in a statement.
“As a B.C. family-owned grocer, we’re proud that our first national award comes from a store with such deep roots in this community.”
Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers Awards Program
Every year, the Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers Awards Program recognizes the success of outstanding independent retailers, in addition to offering insights into innovations that are changing and enhancing the way retailers compete.
According to its website, each store is visited personally by a highly respected retail management expert, who evaluates competing stores based on retailing excellence and innovation, store team performance, customer service, space utilization, freshness, and cleanliness.
To be eligible, stores must be members of the Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers and Association des détaillants en alimentation du Québec and must be open for business for a minimum of one year.
Additionally, awards are split into size categories they have entered: small (up to 14,999 sq. ft.), medium (15,000 to 24,999 sq. ft.), and large (25,000 sq. ft. or more).
Several other Metro Vancouver grocery stores also took home hardware this year, including PriceSmart Foods Lougheed, which won silver in the National Awards – Specialty Category, and Stong’s Market Northwoods, which received a Platinum Achievement Award for 10 consecutive Awards of Merit.
Rendering of Fresh St. Market Hastings-Sunrise
Fresh St. Market also recently announced plans for its 11th location at 2585 Hastings St. in Vancouver’s Hastings-Sunrise neighbourhood.
“Hastings-Sunrise has a deep sense of community and a strong appreciation for fresh, local food,” said Palle Knudsen, vice president of retail operations and marketing at Fresh St. Market.
“Our 11th location and third in Vancouver, this store reflects our continued commitment to creating welcoming food destinations that make everyday shopping easier, more inspiring, and more connected to B.C. producers.”
Expected to open in Fall 2027, the location will be 21,452 sq. ft. and one of the retail anchor tenants at the Alba building alongside London Drugs.
With files from Marco Ovies.