ValuFoods opens in Blackville
Main Street ValuFoods
Residents of Blackville and surrounding areas have a new grocery store to meet all their shopping needs.
ValuFoods, an associate of Co-op Atlantic, opened for business recently on Main Street in Blackville.
This week, the store is celebrating with a grand opening week. A ceremony was held Monday and events included a ribbon cutting, numerous draws along with free coffee and donuts.
“We started shopping here as soon as it opened,” said Valda Stewart of Gray Rapids. “This is a really nice store. Thank God we got it.”
“It has a variety of everything that we are looking for,” she said.
The store’s owners/operators brothers Jerry and Terry Stafford purchased the property Oct. 9 and started renovations immediately.
“We worked day and night and were able to open for business in just 10 days,” said Terry Stafford. “Although we weren’t quite ready, we decided to open anyway to give customers a chance to enjoy the store.”
The store also has individual departments for produce, meat, frozen food, dairy and a bakery.
“Our in store bakery ensures customers can purchase fresh baked goods daily, seven days a week,” said Terry Stafford.
In addition to regular grocery items, the store carries Co-op brand products, a full line of Barbour spices, New Brunswick Health sheets, houseware items, and a selection of wine making supplies. DVD movies are also available to rent.
The store’s Appliance Shoppe features a 900-square-foot department complete with washers, dryers, freezers, refrigerators, stoves, and snowblowers.
“This is my brand new favourite store,” said Darlene Jardine, owner of Darlene’s Tea House in Barnettville. “I have a business and get a lot of my supplies from this store. I can buy anything here from groceries to a washer and dryer.”
“If Terry doesn’t have an item on the shelf, he will get it for you,” she said.
“My brother and I are customer oriented people,” said Stafford.
“We give customers a variety of products at fair prices and this will enable us to grow with the community as a community store.”
Owners of Valufood in Chipman, the Staffords have a combined total of nearly 80 years in the grocery business – Terry with 40-plus years and Jerry almost 40 years.
The majority of the store’s 18 employees, six full time and 12 part time, live in Blackville but some of the staff reside in the outlying areas stretching from Renous to Blissfield.
Weekly sale flyers featuring specials will be distributed by mail from Renous to Doaktown, and non-grocery items advertised in the flyer may also be purchased online at www.shop.valufood.ca.
Valufood is open for business everyday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. including holiday and Sundays. The only exception is Christmas day when the store will be closed for staff members to enjoy Christmas with their families.