OK Falls reacts to IGA loss

Okanagan Falls was recently dealt a blow when IGA, the only grocery store in the small town, announced it would be leaving at the end of this summer. 

Castanet hit the streets in the community to find out how the loss of the store will affect residents. 

"It kinda sucks. It means everybody is going to have to travel further into town to get their food and stuff," one man said. "It's not really a big deal for me, but for most it might be."

"With the price of gas these days, it's kind of nice to be able to shop in your own town," said an elderly lady. "I'm just praying that there's another store that comes in to replace them."

One woman had just moved to town, and was shocked to hear the news.

"I'm surprised, because it's very convenient to have the grocery store here. And what will take its place?" she said. 

Another woman said she lives right across the street and is used to walking to get her groceries. 

"My husband works in the daytime so I don't have a car, so if I need something it's so convenient to come over here," she said. "We'll have to go to Penticton and make sure we don't forget anything on our list."

One man said he wasn't surprised by the turn of events. 

"We will regret seeing it close, but gosh ever since I moved here I've been wondering when it would close, because there's hardly ever anybody here," he said. "I'm surprised they made it this far."

Parent company Georgia Main Food Group told Castanet the store has been losing customer counts and sales “continuously” for the past “number of years.”

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