Thrifty Foods Tuscany Village has undergone a stunning transformation, revealing a fresh, modern aesthetic while reaffirming its commitment to community partnerships.
Following months of renovations, the store is celebrating its grand reopening Aug. 29 and spotlighting its ongoing collaboration with Shelbourne Community Kitchen.
"We’re thrilled to welcome everyone back to our beautifully renovated store," says Store Manager Kat Yeoman.
"This has been a labour of love, and we’re proud not just of the enhancements we’ve made to our store, but also of the strong relationships we’ve built with organizations like Shelbourne Community Kitchen. “Our customers and community are at the heart of what we do here.”
As a part of the grand opening, the store made a $1,000 donation to support the Kitchen’s annual Back-to-School Stock Up event, which provides healthy school lunch ingredients for the 285 local families.
This partnership, now several years strong, goes beyond financial support. Employees from the Tuscany Village store regularly volunteer at the Kitchen, helping in food preparation and distribution.
“We’re deeply grateful for their ongoing support,” says Director of Operations, Kim Cummins.
“The contribution to our Back-to-School event means we can provide essential items like fresh produce, proteins and reusable lunch containers to families in need.”
To raise additional funds, Thrifty Foods Tuscany Village is hosting a community barbecue on Aug. 31 from noon to 4 p.m., with all proceeds going to Shelbourne Community Kitchen.
Guests can enjoy a Thrifty Kitchens' mild Italian sausage on a Portofino deluxe brioche bun, paired with a drink, for a $5 suggested donation. Local bakery Portofino, a long-time partner of Thrifty Foods, generously donated the buns.
The store’s makeover includes a self-serve hot foods bar, a full-service sandwich bar and a refresh of the Woodstone pizza oven, offering made-to-order thin-crust pizzas.
Shoppers can now also find a dry-aged beef selection, a self-checkout area for quicker shopping, and a reimagined interior decor.
“We’re proud to bring something new and exciting to this community while continuing to offer the quality and service our customers have come to expect,” Yeomans said.
Portofino Bakery, known for its handcrafted breads and commitment to sustainability, is now Canada’s largest B Corp-certified bread company. “Our partnership with Portofino aligns with our values of offering quality products while supporting local businesses,” Yeomans notes.
The grand reopening celebrations will continue for four weeks, with promotions, local vendor samples and plenty of opportunities for the community to engage with this refreshed local hub.
For more information about Thrifty Foods Tuscany Village and coming events, visit thriftyfoods.com. To learn more about how you can support Shelbourne Community Kitchen, visit shelbournecommunitykitchen.ca.