Quality and trust – they’re the main ingredients behind Okotoks Sobeys’ decades of serving the community. From quality food and staff, to the trust of long-time customers, they have led the store to 11 awards in the Western Wheel’s Best of the Foothills readership survey.
“The people trust that what they get from us is the highest quality we can make it,” said owner David Gilbert.
Okotoks Sobeys was this year’s big winner netting gold in five categories – Best Corporate Sponsor, Best Local Established Business, Best Grocery store, Best Place to Buy Imported Foods and Best Place to buy Produce. Sobeys also won silver for Best Place to buy Organic Food and bronze for Best Bakery, Best Place to Buy Beef, Best Pharmacy. It also tied for bronze for Best Customer Service. Gilbert also won silver as Best Business Owner.
Gilbert credited his success to his staff, who he said are committed to their customers needs.
“You have to try and meet the customer’s expectations in each area – bakery, meat, produce, grocery,” he said. “If you look at the categories in the Best of the Foothills – things like imported foods and organic food – it’s getting more and more relevant.”
Ingredients matter, not only what is in the produce aisles and meat counter, but also in the food lining the grocery shelves.
Gilbert said manufacturers are paying more attention to a growing diversity of needs and interests, from organic foods to gluten-free diets. It’s important to stay on top of the latest innovation in food products for his customers, he said.
“The decision-making process to help the consumer is more and more a factor,” said Gilbert.
Sobeys staff are educated and informed about what’s popular and the latest innovations, from the front lines to the leadership team.
“In all those areas, I try to find an expert,” he said. “In produce, we have been a perennial winner in the gold category and that has been led by my uncle (Greg Gilbert) who has somewhere between 30 and 25 years of good produce experience.”
Gilbert’s business is rooted in the community and that means giving back to the town his family calls home.
“I like to say that we have tried to make Okotoks a better place to live, whether that’s supporting it through donations of food or monetary support,” he said.
Sobeys has been fortunate to grow with Okotoks, he said.
More grocery stores have opened their doors over the years, but Gilbert said he’s thankful for his loyal customers.
“Most people who’ve been with us for any length of time feel good about shopping here,” he said.
