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Safeway Local Supplier Spotlight: NoochPOP

Posted on by Daniela Travierso

As we continue to shine a light on our outstanding local suppliers across British Columbia, it was an absolute pleasure to connect with Earl Ellingson, Chief Popper, at his family-run business, NoochPOP.

We spoke to Earl about what sparked the idea for NoochPOP, the impact of Safeway’s support, and what’s on the horizon for this growing company.

Earl, can you share a little bit about your background and how your company came to be?

My wife Trish and I are food industry veterans, having built and sold an energy bar company. When our vegan(ish) friends introduced us to nutritional yeast (nooch) and recommended we sprinkle it on popcorn, we were hooked! It’s a unique, smooth, golden, creamy, cheesy, delicious ingredient.

After our “nooch aha moment,” we saw a business opportunity. After much research, we learned that no one in the grocery business had a nutritional yeast popcorn product. So, we decided to partner with our three daughters (aka The Nooch Girls) to sell organic fresh-popped popcorn seasoned with nooch and, voila… NoochPOP was born, right here in Vancouver!

Can you tell us more about NoochPOP’s products?

NoochPOP is organic popcorn sold in ready to eat 120g bags. The hero core ingredient of every bag is nutritional yeast (aka nooch) which is a golden yellow seasoning loaded with B vitamins, fiber, and protein. It tastes very cheesy, but is vegan.

You may also be wondering how nutritional yeast is made? Well, it’s grown in a glucose-rich environment, usually sugarcane or beet molasses. The yeast is then heated to become inactive (not baker’s or brewer’s yeast), then fermented, harvested, washed, pasteurized and dried to a golden yellow flake or powder.

NoochPOP is currently available in five flavours: Kinda Nacho & Cheesy, Kinda Cheesy, Kinda Chili Lime & Cheesy, Kinda Garlic & Cheesy, and Kinda Sweet & Savoury.

As your business began to grow, why were you interested in working with Safeway?

Our goal is to be where our customers are — so Safeway was an obvious choice to meet the needs of people looking for healthier snacks during every grocery shopping trip.

What did it feel like when you saw your products on Safeway shelves for the first time?

As sole owners of the business, it’s always with parental pride when we see our products on the shelves at Safeway. And we often can’t help it… but there’s times we organize our products on the shelves to make sure everything looks good.

What makes you most proud to partner with Safeway? 

Safeway is a legacy, top retail partner. So, if we can sell here where everybody knows the shopping experience is about quality products, then we’re confident we’ll be successful.

What growth has NoochPOP seen since partnering with Safeway?

We’ve seen an upward spike in our sales. Now, our job is to continue making the best product and getting it placed in the best locations in store.

What’s next for you and your business?

We’re looking at adding more flavours to our offering as well as expanding our business into eastern Canada and the United States. Beyond that, we’re also looking at other products that nutritional yeast could make even better!

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We’re so proud to partner with hundreds of local suppliers to not only bring the best products to our stores, but invest in our own local communities. These brightly coloured bags are available in 23 Safeway stores and in 25 Thrifty Foods locations in B.C. Keep an eye out the next time you’re in store!

Stay tuned to Safeway Talks for more Safeway Local Supplier Spotlights soon.

Congratulations to our 2021/2022 Nourish U Safeway Graduates

Posted on by Daniela Travierso

Safeway is committed to supporting our teammates in striving for greatness — and when they achieve success, we celebrate together.

We’re so pleased to share that the following Safeway teammates in Saskatchewan have successfully completed the 2021/2022 Corporate Nourish U Management Training Program.

Let’s hear directly from Gavin Minshall, SMT graduate from University Heights Safeway, on what this rewarding experience meant to him.

“I’ve been in retail for 30 years and have held many different positions. When my family moved to this country eight years ago, Safeway was a perfect fit as it gave me the flexibility to support the business and my family as we settled in a new country.

The Nourish U SMT program provided me with an excellent opportunity to bring my perspective to the business while teaching me some invaluable on-the-job skills as I strive to be a more successful Manager. It also gave me the chance to network with a fantastic group of colleagues whose unique qualities and experiences made this program that much more rewarding. I definitely recommend this program to anyone that’s looking to further their skill set.

But it doesn’t end there! I will use the Nourish U skills and management techniques I learned to not only further my career path and to improve my performance, but also for the continued development of those around me.”

A big congratulations to each graduate. We couldn’t be prouder to have you as part of the Safeway family, and can’t wait to see all that you accomplish in your career journey with us.

Nourish U is our leadership development program for corporate Store Manager (SMT) and Department Manager (DMT) training. It’s the very best opportunity to immerse yourself in our operations, get to know our teammates, and understand our products. But Nourish U is more than just an education tool — it’s the engine that kick starts our culture, brings together our brightest minds, and establishes a foundation for every successful career at Safeway.

If you’re interested in applying for an upcoming Nourish U Program cohort, visit the Nourish U tile in the People Portal for more information, or speak to your manager who’s always available to help.

Congratulations to our 2021/2022 Nourish U Safeway Graduates

Posted on by Daniela Travierso

Safeway is committed to supporting our teammates in striving for greatness — and when they achieve success, we celebrate together.

We’re so pleased to share that 22 Safeway teammates in Alberta have successfully completed the 2021/2022 Corporate Nourish U Management Training Program.

Teammate Program & Department Store
Hasan Ulutas DMT Grocery Beltline Safeway
Amber-Lee Karnitsky DMT Grocery Wetaskiwin Safeway
Jamie Rogers DMT Grocery Riverbend Square Safeway
Rubina Anjum DMT Grocery Southgate Safeway
Kyle Meston DMT Meat Garneau Safeway
Meaghan Paul DMT Grocery Capilano Safeway
Neil Smith DMT Produce Tower Lane Mall Safeway
Ana Barrio De Mendoza DMT Deli Glamorgan Safeway
Zahra Bhanji DMT Grocery North Hill Centre Safeway
Stuart McConnell DMT Produce North Hill Centre Safeway
Michaela Sutton DMT Grocery Leduc Safeway
Tori Madu DMT Grocery Meadowlark Safeway
Jerome Resultan DMT Produce Sherwood Park Safeway
Rachel Morgan DMT Meat Dalhousie Station Safeway
Jarett Moreau DMT Meat Sherwood Park Safeway
Tanija Vennard SMT Westmount Safeway
Dylan Lyon SMT Woodbine Square Safeway
Eric Blaskin SMT West Hills Town Centre Safeway
Keira Colpitts SMT Brooks Safeway
Kuljit Parmar SMT Dalhousie Station Safeway
Dallas Eldon Shail SMT South View Safeway
Simardeep Singh SMT Manning Crossing Safeway

Let’s hear directly from a couple grads on what this rewarding experience meant to them.

“The journey through the SMT Nourish U program was one of extreme character growth and confidence building as a leader. It was a privilege to work alongside my fellow SMT members and store manager trainers — sharing stories of real-world scenarios and personal stories of what got them into this program.

At the end of the day its about the people and the community you serve. Coaching others on the fulfillment you can feel by taking care of these two aspects with 110% of your ability is my takeaway from the program. This is something I will carry with me as I move throughout my career, while never forgetting who helped me get to where I am today.”

—Eric Blaskin, Westhills Safeway, SMT Nourish U graduate

“The Nourish U program was a great way to gain knowledge and experience outside the comfort of our own stores. It helped me see things from different points of view and learn how others deal with similar situations in different ways.

In some ways, we learned more from each other’s stories and experiences than from anything in a book. This experience also helped me make lasting connections with other managers who I can rely on later down the road when I need advice or just someone to bounce ideas off of.”

—Amber-Lee Karnitsky, Wetaskiwin Safeway, DMT Nourish U graduate

A big congratulations to each graduate. We couldn’t be prouder to have you as part of the Safeway family, and can’t wait to see all that you accomplish in your career journey with us.

Nourish U is our leadership development program for corporate Store Manager (SMT) and Department Manager (DMT) training. It’s the very best opportunity to immerse yourself in our operations, get to know our teammates, and understand our products. But Nourish U is more than just an education tool — it’s the engine that kick starts our culture, brings together our brightest minds, and establishes a foundation for every successful career at Safeway.

If you’re interested in applying for an upcoming Nourish U Program cohort, visit the Nourish U tile in the People Portal for more information, or speak to your manager who’s always available to help.

Congratulations to our 2021/2022 Nourish U Safeway Graduates

Posted on by Daniela Travierso

Safeway is committed to supporting our teammates in striving for greatness — and when they achieve success, we celebrate together.

We’re so pleased to share that the following Safeway teammates in Ontario have successfully completed the 2021/2022 Corporate Nourish U Management Training Program.

Let’s hear directly from Tanner Olsen, DMT graduate from Kenora Safeway, on what this rewarding experience meant to him.

“The Nourish U program was a great experience that taught me new skills and expanded on my existing skills. I hope to apply for the SMT program next year and expand my knowledge even further.”

A big congratulations to each graduate. We couldn’t be prouder to have you as part of the Safeway family, and can’t wait to see all that you accomplish in your career journey with us.

Nourish U is our leadership development program for corporate Store Manager (SMT) and Department Manager (DMT) training. It’s the very best opportunity to immerse yourself in our operations, get to know our teammates, and understand our products. But Nourish U is more than just an education tool — it’s the engine that kick starts our culture, brings together our brightest minds, and establishes a foundation for every successful career at Safeway.

If you’re interested in applying for an upcoming Nourish U Program cohort, visit the Nourish U tile in the People Portal for more information, or speak to your manager who’s always available to help.

Congratulations to our 2021/2022 Nourish U Safeway Graduates

Posted on by Daniela Travierso

Safeway is committed to supporting our teammates in striving for greatness — and when they achieve success, we celebrate together.

We’re so pleased to share that 10 Safeway teammates in Manitoba have successfully completed the 2021/2022 Corporate Nourish U Management Training Program.

Let’s hear directly from Kristen Hunter, SMT graduate from Tyndall Square Safeway, on what this rewarding experience meant to her.

“The Nourish U SMT program is an amazing experience that creates endless opportunities. I was able to network and form lasting bonds with many other candidates. The program courses offer engaging conservations — and all topic information can be applied to your day-to-day routine.

The public speaking course was also a very useful tool to help build up courage for anyone that may be nervous speaking in front of a crowd. To conclude, the Nourish U SMT program is very beneficial for those looking to enhance or gain new management skills to continuing growing in their roles.”

A big congratulations to each graduate. We couldn’t be prouder to have you as part of the Safeway family, and can’t wait to see all that you accomplish in your career journey with us.

Nourish U is our leadership development program for corporate Store Manager (SMT) and Department Manager (DMT) training. It’s the very best opportunity to immerse yourself in our operations, get to know our teammates, and understand our products. But Nourish U is more than just an education tool — it’s the engine that kick starts our culture, brings together our brightest minds, and establishes a foundation for every successful career at Safeway.

If you’re interested in applying for an upcoming Nourish U Program cohort, visit the Nourish U tile in the People Portal for more information, or speak to your manager who’s always available to help.

Congratulations to our 2021/2022 Nourish U Safeway Graduates

Posted on by Daniela Travierso

Safeway is committed to supporting our teammates in striving for greatness — and when they achieve success, we celebrate together.

We’re so pleased to share that 10 Safeway teammates in B.C. have successfully completed the 2021/2022 Corporate Nourish U Management Training Program.

Teammate Program & Department Store
Cameron Burt DMT Produce Kensington Safeway
Jennifer Gardiner DMT Produce Arbutus Safeway
Kevin Kendrick DMT Grocery Penticton Safeway
Robert Verhelst DMT Produce Trail Safeway
Crystal Carmen La France DMT Produce King Edward Safeway
Raeleena Hunt DMT Grocery Robson Safeway
Nataliia Poluiko DMT Grocery Parkgate Safeway
Kelsey Stade SMT Broadway & Commercial Safeway
Marina Vick SMT Burquitlam Safeway
Kristian Cecchin SMT Austin Road Safeway

Let’s hear directly from a couple grads on what this rewarding experience meant to them.

“The Nourish U program has provided me with the information and skills I need to perform every aspect of my job confidently and proficiently. My knowledge from this program will continue on with me in my current role and future roles with the company. I’m also very excited to be part of the future of Nourish U as a trainer to help develop our future leaders!”

—Kelsey Stade, Broadway & Commercial Safeway, SMT Nourish U graduate

“When I applied for the Nourish U program, I wasn’t sure how the experience would go as my skills as a leader were still in development. However, over the course of the program, I improved my leadership skills as well as my confidence in providing a voice to my fellow teammates.

The support from the individuals I encountered in the program was absolutely priceless. The alumni weren’t kidding around about how great it is! This program is an awesome opportunity to not only pursue and achieve your career goals, but to also become a better version of yourself. Best of luck to all future applicants. I hope you find success in your careers as much as I have.”

—Robert Verhelst, Trail Safeway, DMT Nourish U graduate

A big congratulations to each graduate. We couldn’t be prouder to have you as part of the Safeway family, and can’t wait to see all that you accomplish in your career journey with us.

Nourish U is our leadership development program for corporate Store Manager (SMT) and Department Manager (DMT) training. It’s the very best opportunity to immerse yourself in our operations, get to know our teammates, and understand our products. But Nourish U is more than just an education tool — it’s the engine that kick starts our culture, brings together our brightest minds, and establishes a foundation for every successful career at Safeway.

If you’re interested in applying for an upcoming Nourish U Program cohort, visit the Nourish U tile in the People Portal for more information, or speak to your manager who’s always available to help.

Want to take your shot at winning a NHLShop.ca gift card?

Posted on by Daniela Travierso

The #myNHLfamily contest is back for our customers with the chance to win 1 of 4 amazing prizes, including a hockey season’s worth of free groceries and season tickets.

But we can’t just have our customers have all the fun. We want to give teammates a chance to get in on the action, too, with their own exciting contest that launches today — and participating is easy!

Between February 16 – March 16, click here to enter the contest by filling in your contact details.

What’s up for grabs? Three (3) grand prizes of a $250 NHLShop.ca gift card and fifty (50) secondary prizes of a $50 NHLShop.ca gift card. Winners will be randomly selected, and their gift cards will be sent directly to them.

For more information, speak with your Store Manager.

We hope you’ll join us in celebrating our #myNHLfamily partnership.

Good luck!

Kicking off bargaining with UFCW 247

Posted on by Daniela Travierso

Last week, we sat down with UFCW 247 and the Safeway bargaining committee, eager to work collaboratively to begin bargaining for a new collective agreement. There’s a lot for us to discuss over the coming weeks and we’re here to listen.

Its been quite some time since we last bargained in 2019, and a lot has changed in our store network and across our province since then. We’ve come a long way and made some positive changes to the business.

  • We opened new stores in Austin Heights, Arbutus and Davie Street.
  • We remodeled many stores including West Broadway and Fort St. John, to name a few.
  • We converted 16 Safeway stores to FreshCo stores, and though this was difficult for many teammates, it helped us attract new customers by providing the store format and shopping options they may have been going to our competitors for.
  • We ran three successful meat cutter training cohorts with a fourth cohort starting this April.

Now more than ever, we need to prepare ourselves for the future. In the coming years, we’ll face many challenges with the uncertain economy, the extremely competitive grocery industry, and evolving customer needs and wants.

Reaching an agreement that balances the needs and goals of our teammates, and the operational and competitive requirements of our stores will help set us up for success.

Our focus at the table will be on investing in our valued Safeway teammates, modernizing the collective agreement, and addressing areas of competitive disadvantage specific to our meat, deli and seafood business. We want to support the future growth of the Safeway banner in B.C. for years to come.

We know that many of the conversations over the next few months will impact you and your families. That’s why its important to us that you stay informed. We’ll keep you updated on SafewayTalks.ca as bargaining continues.

Keep heart healthy this month

Posted on by Daniela Travierso

Did you know that 2.4 million Canadians are affected by heart disease and that it’s the second leading cause of death in Canada? February is heart health month, and our Safeway Pharmacy wants to help you reduce your risk of heart disease and increase your heart health knowledge.

What is heart disease? Heart disease refers to various types of heart conditions, such as a heart attack, stroke, heart failure, hypertension, or arrhythmia. Heart disease can affect men and women differently. Click HERE to learn more about heart health.

Pharmacy has changed roles when it comes to health care. Your local pharmacist is an educator, but also someone who is here to support you. Our Safeway Pharmacy teams can help you with heart health management and even prevention of heart disease. Here’s how they can help:

  • A member of our pharmacy team can discuss alternative behaviours that will help prevent you from getting heart disease, such as having a well-balanced diet, active living or quitting smoking.
  • Our pharmacists can create a personalized care plan that’s specific to you! They’ll meet with you to review your health history and current medications. Together, you’ll develop a plan that is suited best to you.
  • Medication reviews are a great way to understand your meds. Our teams can help you understand how the medications interact, with any side effects, and with goals to decrease the dosage of a medication.
    • Ask your local Safeway pharmacist about compliance packaging, which will help ensure that you take your prescriptions correctly and on time. We have a variety of innovative solutions.
  • Your blood pressure plays an important role in preventing and managing heart disease. Our Safeway Pharmacies offers free blood pressure testing and results are available immediately.
    • The test is simple, painless, and takes only a minute or two. This allows you to be in control of your health!
    • Discuss your results with our pharmacists – we can assess your personal history and let you know if you need to take action.

Visit your local Safeway Pharmacy team and see how they can help with your heart health management.

February is American Heart Month, which brings awareness to heart disease, stroke, and overall heart health. The key to living a long, healthy life is caring for your heart, so take note

Kicking off bargaining with UFCW 1518

Posted on by Daniela Travierso

Last week, we sat down with UFCW 1518 and the Safeway bargaining committee, eager to work collaboratively to begin bargaining for a new collective agreement. There’s a lot for us to discuss over the coming weeks and we’re here to listen.

Its been quite some time since we last bargained in 2018, and a lot has changed in our store network and across our province since then. We’ve come a long way and made some positive changes to the business.

  • We opened new stores in Austin Heights, Arbutus and Davie Street.
  • We remodeled many stores including West Broadway and Fort St. John, to name a few.
  • We introduced Voila in-store fulfillment as a new offering for our customers to help drive sales.
  • We converted 16 Safeway stores to FreshCo stores, and though this was difficult for many teammates, it helped us attract new customers by providing the store format and shopping options they may have been going to our competitors for.

Now more than ever, we need to prepare ourselves for the future. In the coming years, we’ll face many challenges with the uncertain economy, the extremely competitive grocery industry, and evolving customer needs and wants.

Reaching an agreement that balances the needs and goals of our teammates, and the operational and competitive requirements of our stores will help set us up for success.

Our focus at the table will be on investing in our valued Safeway teammates, modernizing the collective agreement, and addressing areas of competitive disadvantage. We want to support the future growth of the Safeway banner in B.C. for years to come.

We know that many of the conversations over the next few months will impact you and your families. That’s why its important to us that you stay informed. We’ll keep you updated on SafewayTalks.ca as bargaining continues.