Regina to have 1st of 5 Save-On-Foods stores opening in Sask.

People in Regina will soon have a new place to get their groceries. Save-On-Foods is coming to Saskatchewan, and it’s bringing online ordering with it.

The company announced a new store will be opening up in Regina in spring of 2016.

“We want to be the best place to shop, we want to be the best place to work, and we want to be the best community and business partners that we can possibly be,” said Darrell Jones, president of Save-On-Foods, at a media event in Regina.

Jones explained that the old Canadian Tire building on Albert Street South is being refurbished for the store, and that it would bring about 150 jobs.

He said the chain wants to carry the local products that the community wants.

“We’re going to do our best to bring in the local suppliers, whether it be local produce, local people that have a cottage industry where they make potato chips or jams or whatever it is – we’re going to make sure they have a no-hassle way to get in our stores.”

Jones invited local suppliers to come to them to talk about being in the stores.

Save-On-Foods will also bring online ordering for groceries to Regina.

“We think some of those Regina days, it might be ‘kinda nice just to go online and order your groceries rather than to have to come out to the stores,” said Jones.

He explained the orders will be able to be made first thing in the morning, and then picked up later in the day, or delivered the next day.

To showcase the delivery option, the CEO of the Regina Food Bank, Steve Compton, made the very first order and a Save-on-Foods truck brought the order from B.C. The company also gave the food bank a voucher for $10,000 of their most-needed items.

Wade Murray, Regina city council and deputy mayor, welcomed the company, and said he’s excited about filling the vacant building and creating jobs.

“The announcement of the new store is really welcome news to our Regina residents, and it shows that our growth in our community is still continuing to happen on a very rapid basis and we’re attracting great community partners like Save-on-Foods,” said Murray.

More stores will open later on, two in Saskatoon, and one each in Moose Jaw and Yorkton.

“Yorkton is a bustling community, it’s a hub of a whole bunch of farm areas in Saskatchewan … we’re excited about going to Yorkton,” said Jones.

Jones said the company is hoping to have five or six Save-On-Foods stores in Regina, and about 20 in Saskatchewan.