An Okotoks grocery store continues to be a favourite pick in the Western Wheel’s annual Readers’ Choice Awards.
Sobeys, owned by Dave and JoAnn Gilbert, won gold for Best Grocery Store, Best Place to Buy Beef, Best Place to Buy Imported Foods and Best Place to Buy Produce in the 2024 Readers’ Choice Awards.
The store’s success can be traced back nearly 50 years, owner/operator Dave Gilbert said.
“My wife and I are second generation in the business,” Gilbert said. “We both grew up here and we raised our kids here.”
He’s watched the community grow and said the business has grown right along with it.
Gilbert said he’s grateful for the support from people who voted, and that the results show customers are pleased with what they find at Sobeys.
"We’re grateful for our customers over the years,” he said.
The staff make a great team, from the students who work part-time to the full-timers who have been there for 30 years or more, he said.
Staff work to take care of customers, and the store places an emphasis on high-quality fresh products like produce, bread and meat, he said.
The store also won silver for Best Place to Buy Organic Food and for Favourite Corporate Sponsor.
As Alberta grows, Gilbert said there is more demand for imported or organic products, and the store’s size means it can carry a wide assortment of unique items.
Okotoks Sobeys was voted Best Grocery Store in 2022 and 2023.
