Here is a link to a recent article in the Nanaimo Daily News regarding a recent study confirming that most people rarely wash their reusable grocery bags. Of 84 randomly selected, only one bag did not contain any bacteria.

Commenting on the article and the study, QF Director of Operations Ken Schley remarks,"We're pleased that the word is finally getting out that people will need to keep their reusable bags clean for the sake of their health and that of their families and guests."

Schley feels that as people become more aware of issues surrounding food-borne illness and what it takes to get their groceries home safely, some may rethink the way they have stores pack their groceries. "Some of our shoppers take the view that repeated laundering their bags and disposing them at the end of their usable life offsets any potential benefits of avoiding plastic bag use."

"Either way, we will always do our best to accomodate our shoppers' needs while ensuring they have the best chance of contamination-free packaging to get their food home safely, regardless of what form that takes."

"That could include paper bags, biodegradable plastic bags, or even cardboard boxes (when available), recognizing that each method of packing groceries has its' merits and drawbacks, and we encourage people to consider the bigger picture when making choices that are right for them."

"What seems counter-productive is when a competitor chooses to eliminate plastic bags from their checkouts altogether, then reacts to public pressure by advertising ten free garbage bags with a $60 order. Generally that size of order might require three or possibly four plastic bags, but certainly not ten. Why not just give shoppers a choice in the first place?"

"Although plastic bags are often referred to as single use, you would be hard-pressed to find anyone who uses a plastic bag once, then throw it away. They tend to be used for books, gym shoes or a variety of other uses before eventually being recycled. In fact, ever since plastic grocery bags were introduced, we have been accepting any recyclable shopping bag from any retail store. As a result, in 2009 we recycled nearly double the amount of plastic we used in our stores."

"If people apply the same discipline in taking their their reusable bags along on shopping trips to returning plastic bags for recycling at the store, there will be much less going to landfills.” For those that forget their reusable bags, or are opposed to them in principle, Schley points to another option. “Paper bags are going through a resurgence recently. This is largely because they can be used a few times and either recycled or composted."

"We trust our customers to ultimately make the right choices, and for us that means continuing to pack groceries in reusable bags, or ending each shopping trip with the offer of 'Do you prefer paper or plastic?'".

When asked for tips for getting groceries home safely, Schley deferred to the advice of Health Canada who offers some simple tips on reusable shopping bags and food safety.

QF Blu By U Wins "Best Local Team" at the 2010 Save On Foods Nanaimo Dragon Boat Festival!

In an impressive field of 81 dragon boats this year, we are pleased to report that our QF Blu By U team placed fourth overall. Of those teams, approximately two dozen are local, with QF Blu By U capturing the "best local team" honours. We are extremely proud of the commitment, dedication and hard work the team has shown over the years in their efforts to raise funds for breast cancer research

QF Blu By U has taken home the same trophy in 2004, 2006, 2009 and again this year.

Congratulations to the coaches, managers and paddlers for their outstanding efforts!

"Twenty-four years ago, we started the very first of many annual sandcastle competitions right here on Parksville beach. We had one store at the time in Qualucum Beach," recalls QF Director of Operations Ken Schley. "It somehow seems fitting that we have gone full circle. It's our first year of our title sponsorship of the Quality Foods Canadian Open Sand Sculpting Competition, and the first year that it's a qualifying event for the World Championships this September."

The winners of this event will advance to the finals in Federal way Washington.

"The field of talent competing this year was exceptional, and the results of these artists bringing their best is evident in the sculptures," remarks Rob MacKay of Quality Foods. MacKay, Parksville Mayor Ed Mayne and local artist Brian Middleton were the three non-competitor judges for this important event. "Speaking for the judges, we really enjoyed the process yet never lost sight of what is at stake for these competitors."
"I hope everyone gets an opportunity to see the level of talent and dedication to the craft on display at Parksville Beach until the middle of August."

Results for the 2010 Quality Foods Canadian Open Sand Scuplting Competition ar as follows:
Solo Sculptors:
1st: Bruce Waugh, Langley
2nd: David Ducharme, Winlaw, B.C.
3rd: Melineige Beau Regard, St-Hippolyte, Que.
4th: Marc Lepire, Wendake, Que.
5th: Fred Mallett, Port Aransas, Texas

Teams:
1st: Sandboxers, Victoria
2nd: Orbital Sanders, Seattle
3rd: Cutting Edge, Parksville

Competitors’ Choice Awards
Solo: David Ducharme, Winlaw, B.C.
Teams: Orbital Sanders, Seattle

People's Choice Awards are determines by ballot of the general public visiting the displays.

For more information on the Quality Foods Canaian Open Sand Sculpting Competition and Exhibition, please visit Parksville Beach Festival Society

Quality Foods continues their support of health care in the communites where they do business by adding to the Quality Foods Community Health Care Endowment Fund.
A cheque for $15,000 is presented on behalf of QF customers to the Nanaimo & District Hospital Foundation, who administers the fund.
The donation is a result of twenty-five cents from each Becel, Dempster’s and Canola Harvest product during January and February in all Quality Foods stores.

Photo, from left to right:
Represnting all QF stores: Gord Groves, QF Bowen Road and Allan Schley, QF Northridge; Accepting the cheque is Amber Adams, Nanaimo & District Hospital Foundation

Our new store opened in the Driftwood Mall in Courtenay on April 8 - WOW, What an exciting event!
We are thrilled with the warm reception we have received from Courtenay and other Comox Valley residents and businesses. In fact we had people from all different areas of Vancouver Island! To name a few: Cumberland,
Royston,
Union Bay,
Fanny Bay
Black Creek,
Merville
Qualicum Beach
and many, many more!

Thanks to everyone who came out in support of your new store!

MEDIA RELEASE For Immediate Release, 03/27/10

Quality Foods, which began in 1982 as Qualicum Foods in Qualicum Beach, expands their award-winning grocery shopping experience to the Driftwood Mall in Courtenay on April 8.

“It’s been a long process getting to this point, and Courtenay residents have been waiting patiently,” states director of operations Ken Schley, “and once shoppers experience for themselves what we have been trying to accomplish, we feel they will agree that it was worth the wait.”

“We’re very excited to expand our unique brand of grocery retailing to the residents of Courtenay and surrounding communities,” remarks Schley, “and that includes many new features that are new to this part of town.”

The island-owned grocery company has a well-established presence on Guthrie Road in Comox, and the new 45,000 square foot Driftwood Mall location will appeal to residents on the south and west side of the Puntledge River. “We have received many requests for a more accessible choice in food stores to those residents, including Cumberland and Royston shoppers.”

While the store has a special Sneak Preview for Seniors from 4:00 - 7:00 PM on Wednesday April 7, the official ribbon cutting ceremony is set for Thursday, April 8 at 10:00 AM, at which time the store will open to the general public.

For more information, please contact:
Rob MacKay, rob@qualityfoods.com

Planning a vacation to spectacular Parksville Beach? Why not make it a fun family event and take part in our annual Children's Sandcastle Competition and KidFest? The 2010 event will be held on Sunday August 22. Watch this space a little closer to the time for more details and visit KidFest. Oh, and remember to arrive the night before (Aug. 21) for the amazing QF Festival Of Lights fireworks simulcast to music on 88.5FM The Beach!

For Immediate Release
The Qualicum Beach Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce Ken Schley as the 2009 recipient of it’s Lifetime Achievement Award. The Coastal Community Credit Union Lifetime Achievement Award is selected by the past presidents of the Chamber recognizing the individual’s support of the business community, their history of achievement, their commitment to Qualicum Beach and their multi-dimensional impact on the community and their industry.

“Ken represents everything we outlined in the criteria for this award” said Past President Po Wan, chair of the Past Presidents committee that selected this year’s recipient. “He has had a tremendous impact on this community ever since he saw the opportunity to open Qualicum Foods in 1982. Ken has shown extraordinary leadership as head of the Quality Foods Team. Over the past number of years Ken has been honoured by the BC Food Brokers for Outstanding Leadership, voted into the Hall of Fame by the Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers, recognized as one of the Best Managed Companies by Deloitte and in 2005 Qualicum Foods was honoured as the Best Grocery Store in Canada. The same year Qualicum Foods was one of only 31 grocery stores in the world recognized for their design of the store and the only one in Canada to receive such recognition. In 2008 Ken was the recipient of the Golden Pencil, the highest award given in Canada to an individual in the industry. Last weekend Ken received the highest honour British Columbia has to offer for his leadership in the industry… and that’s just some of the highlights” added Wan.

As the Director of Operations of the Qualicum Foods Team, Ken’s leadership and vision for the stores has been equaled by his vision for his home town. “One only has to look at the sponsorship posters for most of the events in our community to know that QF is involved. There isn’t much that would happen in our community without their support” said Wan. “We are truly a better place to live, work and play because Ken Schley made the decision to move here, raise his family and be a part of this community 28 years ago and we are proud to honour his achievements and contributions to his industry and Qualicum Beach” she added.

Nominations for the Community Awards close Friday, February 12th in the categories of Best New Business, Citizen of the Year, Outstanding Customer Service, Best Business and Volunteer of the Year. Presentation of the Community Awards will be Wednesday, March 17th at the Qualicum Beach Civic Centre. Awards Dinner tickets are available at the Chamber office at 124 West 2nd Avenue, Qualicum Beach.

The Qualicum Beach Chamber of Commerce has been the “Voice of Business” in the community since 1927.

For Information:
Judi Ainsworth, General Manager, Qualicum Beach Chamber of Commerce
Phone: 250-752-0960 or 250-738-0155, Cell: 250-951-3700, Email: chamber@qualicum.bc.ca

Ken Schley, Quality Foods' Director of Operations was honoured on Feb. 7 with a Leadership Achievement Award. The award presentation was held jointly by the Phoenix Food & Drug Group and the Food Executives Club of Vancouver at Newlands Golf Club in Langley, with about three hundred guests in attendance. Manufacturer Steve Maddeaux od Old Dutch Foods was also recognized asa 2010 award recipient.

Small things make all the difference and in Qualicum Beach you won't find big box stores and fast food chains.
Instead there are many unique shops and services that have a style and character all their own--just like their owners! Fashion boutiques, art galleries, bookshops, antique stores, florists, home décor studios, bakeries, cafés, fine restaurants... all of them add to the personality of our town and the quality of our lives. Have a look at how the beauty of small message is spreading.

The Newman's Own Foundation and Quality Foods raised funds through sales of Newman's Own products in all Quality Foods stores during a recent promotion. The funds raised represented the first corporate donation toward the new Renal Dialysis Centre at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital.
"It's a start"', says Rob MacKay of Quality Foods. "They are looking to raise at least $540,000 for this critically needed facility..." Read more

Qualicum Foods has been awarded the regional Gold Award for British Columbia/ Yukon, then advanced to capture the National Silver as part of the Independent Grocer of the Year Awards program. The honour was accepted by QF partners Ken Schley and John Briuolo on behalf of their store people at the Oct.27 Canadian Federation of Independent Grocer’s (CFIG) Annual Awards Dinner in Toronto.
The Gold Award for the BC/Yukon region has gone to a Vancouver Island Quality Foods store for five consecutive years. “We are thrilled that our stores continue to strike a chord with the industry, and more importantly, with our local shoppers,” remarks Schley. “To have received this award despite more entries than ever, and more intense competition than ever, is a true testament to the hard work and dedication of our people every single day. This is a proud day for them.”
The award, in the large store size category, was awarded to the store in large part because of their strong and consistent participation in community activities, being a good corporate citizen in general and creating a positive workplace, among other factors. “The fact that all nine of our eligible QF stores received Awards of Merit for the third straight year gives us great momentum and confidence going into the Courtenay community where a brand new QF store is just weeks away,” comments Schley.
The Independent Grocer of the Year Awards program is designed to recognize outstanding Canadian Grocers based on a rigorous evaluation performed from the consumer’s perspective. Held in conjunction with Grocery Innovations Canada, the premier grocery trade show for Canada’s grocery industry -- the Independent Grocer of the Year Award and Master Merchandiser Awards recognize excellence in grocery retailing among independents. Hundreds of grocery stores nationwide competed in this year’s program.
For more visit www.cfig.ca

The Canadian Master Merchandiser Award is awarded to the independent grocer who best demonstates effective merchandising through store displays, community involvement and building strong relationships between retailrs and suppliers. This year, Quality Foods of Harewood submitted an entry that encompassed each of these qualities and was rewarded with the coveted National Gold in the large store category.
“This award is special for us because it represents a passing of the torch to the next generation of grocers in our group,” states Ken Schley, QF Director of Operations. "The Scott Tournament of Hearts provided us a good teaching tool to show how grocery retailing, store team building and community involvement dovetail together for exceptional shopping experiences." “A lot of people worked very hard for this, and the results were remarkable. We’re very pleased and excited to return and share this achievement with them.”

As we move full steam ahead into the turkey season, we are pleased to offer Q-Birds (frozen Grade A Turkey, 5-7kg) for an incredibly low rate of 188,000 Q-Points!
So now you have your free Q-Bird, why spend hours preparing and cooking? Visit one of our participating QF stores and let our trained deli people cook it up for you.
Spend the day with your friends and family instead of the stove.


Please ask at the QF Deli in one of these participating stores:
Qualicum Foods, Powell River, Comox, or Port Alberni.

Over $28,400 was split among nine area non-profit groups on Tuesday, as the result of gate fees collected at the Canadian Open Sandsculpting Competition and Exhibition this summer at Parksville Beach.
Guy Siguion of Parksville Quality Foods was on hand for the presentations. "These volunteers were instrumental in assisting the Parksville Beach Festival Society, and in turn, they receive funds for their various community projects."
As the premier sponsor of the event, Quality Foods relayed their appreciation of the society and volunteers who make this important event possible.

Quality Foods, which began in 1982 as Qualicum Foods in Qualicum Beach, expands their award-winning grocery shopping experience in the Comox Valley this fall.
As one of three founding partners, Ken Schley believes the time is right for a move into Courtenay. “We’re very excited to expand our unique brand of grocery retailing to the residents of Courtenay and surrounding communities,” states Schley.
The island-owned grocery company already has a well-established presence on Guthrie Road in Comox, and the new 45,000 square foot Driftwood Mall location will appeal to residents on the southwest side of the Puntledge River. “We have received many requests for a more accessible choice in food stores to those residents, including Cumberland and Royston shoppers.
“We will have all of the same features available to shoppers that has made our Comox store an award-winning shopping destination,” says Schley.
Although no opening date has been scheduled for opening the new store, Schley would only say that the plan is to be open before the end of the year, and construction begins immediately.

For more information, please contact:
Rob MacKay
rob@qualityfoods.com

Julie Starkey of Qualicum Beach is the lucky winner of a brand new Vespa scooter from Quality Foods and Thomas Kemper Soda!
The prize was awarded by Jordan Schley as part of the QF Father's Day promotion that saw over $20,000 in prize giveawatys.

Quality Foods Director of Operations Ken Schley of Qualicum Beach received a rare and time-honoured award at a special ceremony in Toronto on November 24, 2008.
Originally called the 'Knights of the Golden Pencil Award', the Golden Pencil Award was first presented in 1957, recognizing outstanding individuals in the Canadian food industry.
“This recognition is considered the highest honour for any individual in our entire industry,” comments Noel Hayward, one of Ken’s two long-time business partners. “Recipients can be retailers, manufacturers, distributors or any part of the food industry for that matter.”
The symbol used for this Award is a Golden Pencil, signifying the transaction between supplier and retailer by the stroke of a pen. The award itself consists of an actual golden pencil held on a plaque honouring the recipient as well as a scroll, and place on the "Knights of the Golden Pencil Wall of Fame".
On an annual basis, the Nominations Committee reviews suggestions made by both the Executive Committee and the industry at large. The selection process normally will encompass as many as thirty to forty worthy candidates. The criteria for selection is an individual who, through career dedication, has made a significant and worthwhile contribution to the Canadian Food Industry.
Ken has been an active voice for independent grocers both regionally and nationally in such areas as the Beverage Container Stewardship Program. As well he is a past chair of the Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers. With the vision of business partners John Briuolo and Noel Hayward. and Ken’s direction, Quality Foods proved that customer service and community involvement are much more than subtle niceties, they are a core part of the company’s identity and success. At the same time Quality Foods has become associated with pioneering technology in every area of the retail grocery business from the front end to the back office and online. Some ‘firsts’ include the Canadian grocery industry’s first electronic loyalty card (1990) and Western Canada’s first online grocery store (1996). In 2005 Quality Foods ushered in a new era of customer interaction where shoppers choose their own specials.
The Golden Pencil Award is administered by the non-profit Food Industry Association of Canada in cooperation with all sectors of the food industry.

For Immediate Release
Qualicum Foods named Platinum Merchandiser
The Canadian Master Merchandiser Award is awarded to the independent grocer who best demonstates effective merchandising through store displays, community involvement and building strong relationships between retailrs and suppliers. This year, Qualicum Foods of Qualicum Beach submitted an entry that encompassed each of these qualities and was rewarded with the coveted National Gold in the large store category, then went on to take home the Platinum Award for best entry across all categories.

“This award is special for us because our entry was based on “25 Years in the Bag” as a wrap up to our 25th Anniversary celebrations,” states Ken Schley, QF Director of Operations. “A lot of people worked very hard for this, and the results were remarkable. We’re very pleased and excited to return and share this achievement with them.”

The Independent Grocer of the Year Awards program is designed to recognize outstanding Canadian Grocers based on a rigorous evaluation performed from the consumer’s perspective. Held in conjunction with Grocery Innovations Canada, the premier grocery trade show for Canada’s grocery industry -- the Independent Grocer of the Year Awardand Master Merchandiser Awars recognize excellence in grocery retailing among independents. Hundreds of grocery stores nationwide competed in this year’s program.
For more visit www.cfig.ca or
QF Contact: Rob MacKay, Quality Foods, 250-248-4004.