Soebys opens first 'flexstore' in North America

Sobeys has opened a supermarket that gives new meaning to the word flexible.

The Canadian grocer’s store in Orangeville, Ontario, is the first location in North America to feature the “Flexstore” concept from design & shopfitting company Interstore/Schweitzer.  All the furniture used is flexible and ready to plug in as a result of  an elaborate system in which the building services (water, electricity, vacuum, data, etc.) are fed from the ceiling into the counters and furniture.

 According to Interstore/Schweitzer,  the Flexstore concept allows the retailer to change counters (also from service to self-service) and entire departments quickly and easily — without major construction costs —  to respond to changing consumer needs. For instance, the pizza counter can easily be replaced by a salad bar by simply moving and exchanging the counters.  

The store design also brings the new corporate identity of Sobeys to life in the retail space and highlights the product presentation. The lighting concept also follows this innovative approach, with an entire product line from lighting partner Imoon specially certified for the Canadian market. The various departments are illuminated by specific lighting to create a different feeling for each area. Thanks to a technological advancement of the light fixtures, an energy saving of 30-40% was achieve

Sobeys Inc. is Canada's second largest retail group with more than 1500 supermarkets in all ten provinces.