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{{Short description|Canadian supermarket chain}}
{{for|information about the now-defunct, formerly affiliated U.S. division Food Basics|Food Basics (American supermarket){{!}}Food Basics}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Food Basics Ltd.
| logo = Food_Basics_Logo.png
| logo_size = 250px
| foundation = {{Start date and age|1995}}
| location = [[Toronto]], [[Ontario]]
| location_country = [[Canada]]
| type = [[Supermarket]]
| industry = Retail
| products = Food, general merchandise (non-food)
| parent = [[A&P Canada]] (1995–2005)<br />[[Metro Inc.]] (2005–present)
| key_people = Liam Bryant (president)
| locations = 144
| homepage = {{url|www.foodbasics.ca}}
}}

'''Food Basics Ltd.''' is a Canadian supermarket chain owned by [[Metro Inc.]] The company operates over 144 stores throughout [[Canada]].

==History==
Food Basics was created by [[A&P Canada]] to compete with the successful [[No Frills (grocery store)|No Frills]] warehouse-style supermarket operated by [[Loblaw Companies]]. It became part of the Metro group<ref>{{Cite news|date=2019-05-17|title=Upper James Metro to become Food Basics|language=en|work=The Hamilton Spectator|url=https://www.thespec.com/business/2019/05/17/upper-james-metro-to-become-food-basics.html|access-date=2020-07-29|issn=1189-9417}}</ref> when A&P Canada was sold to Metro  for $1.7 billion in 2005.<ref>{{Cite web|date=July 20, 2005|title=Metro Inc. in deal to buy A&P Canada for $1.7B|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/metro-inc-in-deal-to-buy-a-p-canada-for-1-7b-1.551855|access-date=July 29, 2020|website=CBC}}</ref>

Food Basics lowers its prices in a number of ways: low maintenance, store decor is kept to a minimum, and fewer staff are employed, mostly in part-time positions. The chain operates by pushing higher volumes on a limited selection of products than Metro stores, allowing it to compete price-wise with other grocery stores. There are over 144 stores across Canada.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About us {{!}} Food Basics |url=https://www.foodbasics.ca/about-us |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250312125452/https://www.foodbasics.ca/about-us |archive-date=2025-03-12 |access-date=2025-03-12 |website=www.foodbasics.ca |language=en}}</ref> 36 were franchise stores until Metro Inc. purchased all stores back by the end of 2008.

Some Food Basics feature a pharmacy known as Food Basics Pharmacy.

Some locations are former [[Super Fresh]] or [[A&P]] supermarkets, dating from when both chains were operated by A&P,<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20140106034356/http://business.highbeam.com/4524/article-1G1-15975130/p-canada-begins-store-conversions HighBeam] A&P Canada begins store conversions. (Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company Inc.)</ref> or other former banners such as A&P-owned [[Dominion (supermarket)|Dominion]] or Metro-owned [[Super C (supermarket)|Super C]].

In the past, the owners' names appeared on the banner (e.g., 'John/Jane's Food Basics'); however, all stores are now simply called 'Food Basics'. Concurrent with this change is a different slogan, which was changed from "Best Prices Everyday!!!" to "Always more for less!"

In Fall 2006, Metro Inc. began to renovate Food Basics stores. The design and format of these new stores closely resemble Metro's Super C banner in Quebec. New store signs feature broken lettering and a larger emphasis on yellow, green, and beige colours. In Spring 2007, Metro Inc. initiated their new inventory system into all of its warehouses.

==Labour relations==
{{Citation needed section|date=April 2021}}
Food Basics is represented by the [[United Food and Commercial Workers]] union. Food Basics mostly offers part-time positions, and each store has few full-time positions. In 2015, overnight positions were discontinued by most stores because of budget reasons.

[[File:FoodBasics5915Yonge.JPG|thumb|A Food Basics store in [[Toronto]].]]
[[File:Food Basics in Brampton 2021.jpg|thumb|A Food Basics store in [[Brampton, Ontario|Brampton]].]]
[[File:FoodBasicsRichmondHill.jpg|thumb|A Food Basics store in [[Richmond Hill, Ontario|Richmond Hill]].]]

==Private label brands==
Food Basics carries many products from Metro's private label brands:
* "Irresistibles": premium quality products<ref name="foodbasics.ca">{{Cite web|title=Our Brands for Less {{!}} Food Basics|url=https://www.foodbasics.ca/more-about-us/our-brands-for-less.en.html|access-date=2021-04-04|website=www.foodbasics.ca}}</ref>
* "Selection": regular store-brand products<ref name="foodbasics.ca"/>
* "Personnelle": pharmacy, health, and personal care products<ref>{{Cite web|title=Jean Coutu deal starts paying off for Metro {{!}} Canadian Grocer|url=https://www.canadiangrocer.com/top-stories/headlines/jean-coutu-deal-starts-paying-off-for-metro-84245|access-date=2021-04-04|language=en-US}}</ref>

===Previous private label brands===
* "Master Choice": premium quality products.
* "Equality": regular store-brand products.
* "Basics for Less": large economy-sized products. 
* "The Baker's Oven": bakery products
*"Great Basics Finds": ready-to-assemble furniture, clothing, housewares and other seasonal items that are specially priced, available in limited quantities, for a limited time<ref>{{Cite web|date=2008-09-22|title=Metro Begins Store Conversions|url=https://www.supermarketnews.com/finance/metro-begins-store-conversions|access-date=2021-04-04|website=Supermarket News|language=en}}</ref>
*"Simply 1-2-3": low-price health and beauty products{{citation needed|date=May 2012}}
* "Simply Kids": baby products including diapers, baby food and other baby products{{citation needed|date=May 2012}}

==See also==
*[[List of supermarket chains in Canada]]
*[[Food Basics USA|Food Basics (USA)]] - The now-unrelated U.S.-based no-frills supermarket chain currently controlled by [[The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company|A&P]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Sources==
*[http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-17772146.html Zwiebach, Elliot. "A&P Canada is forming franchise unit." Supermarket News. November 27, 1995]{{dead link|date=January 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*[http://www.foodbasics.ca Official website]
*[http://www.metro.ca Metro Inc.]

{{Canadian Supermarkets}}
{{The Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company}}

[[Category:1995 establishments in Ontario]]
[[Category:Companies based in Toronto]]
[[Category:Metro Inc.]]
[[Category:Discount stores of Canada]]
[[Category:Retail companies established in 1995]]
[[Category:Supermarkets of Canada]]
[[Category:The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company]]
[[Category:Canadian companies established in 1995]]