Real Canadian Superstore facts for kids
Official logo after brand relaunch on September 21, 2017
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| Subsidiary | |
| Industry | Retail |
| Founded | March 1979 |
| Products | Bakery, beer (select locations), charcuterie, clothing, dairy, deli, frozen foods, gardening centre, gasoline (select locations), general grocery, general merchandise, liquor, meat & poultry, pharmacy, photolab, produce, seafood, snacks, wine |
| Parent | Loblaw Companies |
| Slogan: (Real Canadian Superstore) Save For Real | |
Real Canadian Superstore is a big chain of grocery stores in Canada. It's owned by a large Canadian company called Loblaw Companies. People often call it just Superstore or sometimes RCSS.
The first Superstore opened in Western Canada in the late 1970s. Later, in the early 2000s, it expanded into Ontario. Loblaw wanted to compete with big department stores like Walmart, which were starting to sell a lot of groceries.
Loblaw tried different names for some stores in Ontario, like "Loblaw Superstore." But now, they market all stores under the name Real Canadian Superstore. Some older signs might still show the other names.
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What You'll Find at Superstore
Superstore locations sell many different things. Most of the store is for groceries, like fresh food, snacks, and frozen items. About one-third of the store sells other items. These include electronics, things for your home, and clothes. Many of these items are from Loblaw's own brands. Some popular brands are President's Choice, Life at Home, No Name, and Joe Fresh.
Just like other Loblaw stores, Superstore offers special services. You can find a PhotoLab to print pictures. There are also DrugStore pharmacies for medicines. Many stores also have a GoodLife Fitness gym. Some even have drive-through pharmacies or gas stations called Mobil gas bars. You might also find photo studios and medical clinics.
Loblaw works hard to keep costs low at Superstore. This helps them compete with other stores. All Superstores have a similar layout. This makes it easy for shoppers to find things. It also helps the company save money. Superstore locations are very large, often over 20,000 square meters.
In Western Canada, a company called Westfair Foods Ltd. runs Superstores. In Ontario, Superstores are part of Loblaw's other store groups. These include Loblaws and Zehrs. Even so, Superstore is seen as a separate chain. Prices might be different between Superstore and other Loblaw stores.
In Alberta, you can buy alcohol in private stores. So, there are about 30 Real Canadian Liquorstores there. Many of these are close to Real Canadian Superstore locations.
The people who work at Loblaws and Real Canadian Superstore are part of a union. It's called the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) union.
Superstore's History
The very first Real Canadian Superstore opened in March 1979. It was in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Back then, it was called SuperValu. Many other SuperValu stores opened in Western Canada. Over time, most of them became Superstore locations. The SuperValu name is still used in British Columbia. It's also used in the Maritimes, where it's called Atlantic SuperValu.
In the early 2000s, Loblaw brought the Superstore name to Ontario. This happened because Walmart stores in Canada started adding big grocery sections. Loblaw wanted to be ready for Walmart's "Supercenter" stores. At first, Ontario stores had names like "Loblaws - The Real Canadian Superstore." But they shortened the names. This helped avoid confusion. It also allowed each store chain to have its own weekly sales.
New stores in Ontario started opening as Loblaw Superstore in late 2007. Since December 2008, flyers for Ontario stores have used a combined "Superstore: Loblaw/Real Canadian" logo.
Other Loblaw Stores Like Superstore
There are no Superstore locations in Atlantic Canada or Quebec. However, other Loblaw-owned stores are very similar. In the Maritimes, Atlantic Superstore has a similar look and feel. In Newfoundland and Labrador, Dominion stores are also similar. In Quebec, stores like Maxi and Co. and some larger Provigo locations fill this role. It's not clear if Loblaw will eventually make all these stores into one big "Superstore" chain across Canada.
Also, some large Loblaws and Zehrs stores in Ontario are very much like Superstores. They offer a similar range of food and other goods. Many of these stores were built around the same time as the first Ontario Superstores. But they kept their older brand names.
Slogans Over the Years
- 2022–present: "Save For Real."
- 2019–2020: "Shop Like A Mother"
- 2018: "Truly Super"
- 2017: "We’re not just a store, we’re Superstore. And we don’t do average"
- 2008–2015: "Big on Fresh, Low on Price"
- 2007: "Great brands at great prices"
See also
- Real Canadian Liquorstore
- Loblaw Companies
- Extra Foods
- List of supermarket chains in Canada
Images for kids
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Original Superstore in Camrose, Alberta
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Original Superstore with 2 Entrances in Calgary, Alberta
