Number of Sobeys stores in Canada by brand 2024

Sobeys Inc., the Canadian food retailer, operated over a thousand stores under various banners in Canada as of January 2024. The self-titled Sobeys retail stores were most widespread, with 255 locations in that year. Foodland and IGA ranked in second and third places, with 217 and 194 stores nationwide respectively.

Sobeys’ origins

The company was founded in Stellarton, Nova Scotia by John Sobey as a meat delivery business in 1907. By 1924, their product range had expanded to a full line of groceries. In 1947, Frank Sobey opened the first Sobeys supermarket in Atlantic Canada. Sobeys continued to expand throughout the Atlantic provinces in the 50s and 60s, and in 1987 opened their first store outside of Atlantic Canada in Ontario. Since then the retailer has acquired many brands and successfully grown into one of Canada’s biggest food retailers. Their revenue reached around 30.5 billion Canadian dollars in 2023.

Competition in the food retail market

Loblaw Cos Ltd. was the market leader in the Canadian food market in 2020 according to grocery sales value, making them Sobeys’ biggest competitor. Loblaw’s grocery sales reached approximately 50.3 billion Canadian dollars in that year, around 25 billion more than second placed Sobeys Inc. Since 2013, Loblaws’ food retail store sales have continued to grow year-on-year, securing their top position in the Canadian grocery market.