One of the arguments put forward by 6 & 7 developments for expansion at the Woodline site is a supposed “need” for a grocery store in the north end.
You may be interested in the following list, copied from signage in their existing store. There are 10 aisles dedicated specifically to food in the “My Market” section of the store.
Aisle 1: Bread, Cereal, Granola Bars, Peanut Butter and Jam, Pancake Mix
Aisle 2: Cookies and Crackers, Juice and Drinks
Aisle 3: Frozen Meat and Fish, Ice Cream, Frozen Pizza, Frozen Dinners, Frozen Vegetables
Aisle 4: Milk, Cheese, Dairy Products, Yogurt
(Note: this included fresh eggs, butter and margarine and orange juice)
Aisle 5: Soft Drinks, Potato Chips, Water, Popcorn, Salty Snacks
Aisle 6: Coffee and Tea, Soup, Canned Meat, Salad Dressing, Condiments
Aisle 7: Rice and Beans, Pasta and Sauce, Canned Vegetables, Side Dishes, Ethnic Foods
Aisle 8: Baking Supplies, Sugar and Spices, Foil and Wrap, Paper Plates and Cups
(Note: this included flour and dried fruit)
Aisle 9: Bathroom Tissue, Facial Tissue, Paper Towels, Serviettes, Garbage Bags
Aisle 10: Laundry Detergent, Fabric Softener, Brooms and Mops, Sponges and Brushes
Elsewhere in the store they had pet food, diapers, dish detergent, candy and nuts and the pharmacy items which are now also available in most conventional grocery stores. In fact, other than fresh fruit and vegetables, they seemed to have everything one would purchase in any grocery store in Guelph.
The game being played seems to be one of semantics. The Concise Oxford Dictionary defines “grocer” as “a dealer in food and household provisions”. The north end already has a grocery store, in the form of the existing Wal-Mart.
It is evident that north end residents, if they wish, can puchase 90% of the items on their grocery list from the existing Wal-Mart. If Wal-Mart wants to offer fresh fruit and vegetables, they can do so in their existing space, much the same way that MarketFresh in the downtown offers a full range of foodstuffs in less than 5,000 square feet. SW