Food Basics has opened its first store in Parry Sound, continuing the retailer’s expansion across Canada with a new discount grocery location expected to create 90 jobs.
The new 32,000-square-foot store at 1 Pine Drive officially opened on 4 June and becomes the 155th Food Basics location in Ontario. The opening is also the fourth of eight planned store projects for 2026.
The store includes fresh produce, meat, locally sourced products, BBQ chicken, and the retailer’s Irrésistible and Selection private label ranges. Customers can also access online grocery ordering through the company’s ecommerce platform.
The opening reflects continued growth in the Canada supermarket sector, where discount grocery retailers are expanding to meet demand from shoppers focused on value and lower food prices.
Food Basics said the new location was designed to reflect local shopping preferences in the Georgian Bay and Southeastern Ontario region while maintaining the retailer’s discount-focused operating model.
Alongside the opening, the company announced a CAD$5,000 donation to Harvest Share Parry Sound, supporting local food recovery and food insecurity programs connected to Feed Ontario. The initiative is linked to METRO’s One More Bite food recovery programme, which has distributed nearly 45 million kilograms of food between 2016 and 2025.
The store will operate daily from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Grand opening activities included product samples and gift bags for the first 250 customers.
METRO Inc. said Food Basics continues to focus on discount grocery growth across Ontario as consumers increasingly look for affordable supermarket shopping options.
For the wider canada supermarket industry, the opening highlights how discount banners are continuing to invest in regional markets while combining physical retail expansion with ecommerce, local sourcing, and community support initiatives.
Editor’s Note: This article is based on an official announcement from METRO Inc. and Food Basics.
