Groceries have been a very difficult business in recent years. Supermarkets have been laid low by a lethal combination of low margins, rising fuel cost and relentless competition. Part of the problem for the established grocers is of course Wal-mart which has become a huge seller of food. They are number 1 south of the border.

It isn't that long ago that Canadians shopped at the grocery store for foodstuffs, the department store for clothes and the corner drug store for your prescriptions and personal care needs. Actually the people working in these places knew you, those days are gone forever if you shop the big boxes.

One of our biggest success stories in the big box market has been the Toronto based Loblaws company who own the Real Canadian Superstores, Real Canadian Wholesale and Extra Foods. They've been jumping hoops getting ready for the onslaught of Wal-Mart that is talking fresh produce, meats and lots of dairy.

Every major food retailer today has added some form of general merchandise. Canadians love to eat and love to shop, but not necessarily for food. It's a bore, like doing laundry.

Today's marketplace wants it to be an exciting shopping experience for you. More lifestyle, more pleasure, more health.

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We all know that a new big Real Canadian Superstore is planned for the Westside. Will it be as large as Vernon's new store which is huge?

We also know that First Pro Shopping Centre is still interested in band land in Penticton and you can be sure Superstore is on the list. At the moment it has been slowed down in its plans for a store in Salmon Arm.

Secondly we just returned from a vacation in the south and I made a note to myself that Target Stores may be coming here too, although I've never heard them say a word themselves that this was a fact.