NOVA SCOTIA, CANADA - Empire Company Limited is saying “voilà” to residents of Atlantic Canada this week as the retail pioneer unveiled its expansion of Sobeys’ curbside pickup program. Now available at three store locations in Nova Scotia, the newly launched Voilà by Sobeys Curbside Pickup service offers a freshness guarantee and products at affordable prices with no hidden fees. Orders are assembled with care by Voilà teammates and delivered directly to customers’ cars to provide a contactless experience.

“This is just another way we are bringing online grocery to more Canadians, faster,” said Sarah Joyce, Senior Vice President of E-Commerce at Empire. “Voilà by Sobeys Curbside Pickup combines our industry-leading online shopping experience with a seamless curbside pickup service. Our teammates are excited and ready to bring this best-in-class service to customers in our home province, building on our strong legacy as the hometown grocer of Atlantic Canada.”

Powered by Ocado Group plc’s proven in-store fulfilment technology, this curbside pickup service model allows customers to shop online or via mobile app from a growing selection of products. Voilà by Sobeys teammates uses handheld devices to assemble orders with efficiency and accuracy, focusing on freshness and safety. According to a press release, customers select a convenient one-hour window for contactless curbside pickup.

Empire will expand Voilà Curbside Pickup to stores across Canada over the next few years as part of the company’s Project Horizon strategy. Empire has one Customer Fulfillment Centre (CFC) operational in Ontario, providing Voilà by Sobeys Home Delivery services, and is currently building a second CFC in Montreal. Empire plans to build two additional CFCs across Canada to cover 75 percent of the population.

In response to the impact that COVID-19 has had on Canadians, Empire has implemented significant safety protocols to keep Voilà by Sobeys Curbside Pickup teammates and customers safe, following standards and recommendations set out by the Public Health Agency of Canada. These include frequent cleaning, sanitization, and hygiene standards for all curbside pickup teammates and equipment. Curbside pickup teammates wear face masks when assembling and delivering orders, and all teammates respect physical distancing guidelines. All orders will be placed directly into customers’ cars by Voilà by Sobeys teammates to provide a contactless experience.

To see a complete list of the Nova Scotia locations where Voilà by Sobeys Curbside Pickup has been expanded, access the press release here.

How will this Canadian expansion influence Sobeys other growth strategies? Stay tuned as we at ANUK continue to report.

Empire Company Limited