As Little Britain’s Foodland grocery store prepares for a farewell event, parent company Sobeys says closing a store is never a decision “we make lightly.”
Located at 1043 Little Britain Road in Kawartha Lakes, the grocery store announced on its Facebook page on January 23 that the store will be closing on March 16.
The store stated in its post that Sobeys decided not to renew its lease with the owner of the land where Little Britain Foodland is located.
When asked why it was closing the store, Sobeys said it was a decision based on a number of factors.
“Our company has an unwavering commitment to serving families and communities, especially those in rural areas where we know that families rely on community grocery stores for convenience and access,” Sarah Dawson, public affairs lead for Sobeys, told kawarthaNOW.
“Unfortunately, we’ve had to make a difficult decision to close the Foodland in Little Britain. The decision to close a store is never one we make lightly, and various contributing factors are considered. We regularly review our operations, and the decision is driven by that regular assessment process and is in line with our normal course of business.”
Dawson said Sobeys expresses its gratitude to the Little Britain community for its “loyal patronage over the years.”
“We also want to acknowledge the dedication and service provided by our store team. Their commitment to customers and the community has been exceptional, and we are working to support impacted teammates as they navigate this transition,” Dawson added.
Little Britain Foodland declined an interview with kawarthaNOW.
In announcing the closure, Little Britain Foodland’s Facebook post stated, “I have seen a lot of changes over the years. Lots of people have come and gone but this is by far the saddest news for our amazing community in a long time.”
That post generated more than 350 shares and 50 comments from local community members and customers.
Some people wondered how the closure would affect some of Little Britain’s older adults.
“How are all the elderly people that don’t drive going to survive,” one person asked.
Another post called Little Britain Foodland “the anchor for our community. It will be missed terribly.”
Residents expressed the need for a grocery store and the hope for one in the future.
On that note, Little Britain Foodland stated, “we will miss each and every one of you and like you, we hope a deal can be made with someone willing to continue serving our community.”
Little Britain Foodland is hosting a special send-off event on Saturday, March 2nd from noon to 4 p.m. for community members and staff, including past owners and former employees.
