Héritage (Canadian store) explained

Héritage
Type:Division
Defunct:1995
Successor:Maxi
Foundation:1982
Location:Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Parent:Provigo
Fate:Rebranded as Maxi
Industry:Supermarket
Products:Bakery, beer, dairy, deli, frozen foods, general grocery, liquor, meat & poultry, produce, seafood, snacks, wine

Héritage was a banner of discount grocery stores owned by Provigo to market smaller supermarkets in Quebec.

History

Launched in February 1982 by Provigo, the first store was located on 3565 Taschereau Boulevard in Saint-Hubert, Quebec.[1] In 1992, several of the Steinberg's locations that the company Provigo acquired were transferred to its Héritage chain.[2] [3] The size of a typical Héritage outlet was between that of a traditional supermarket and a Maxi store.[4] Héritage carried less products but offered bigger discounts than its sister chain Maxi. Like Maxi, Héritage stores were company-owned in contrast to the Provigo-branded locations that tended to be franchisees.[5]

In April 1995, Provigo folded the 42 Héritage stores into Maxi bringing the latter's number of locations to 67.[6] According to Provigo, having its discount stores under the single Maxi banner would allow to provide better customer service.

In 2014, a plan by Provigo's owner Loblaws to revive the Héritage name was cancelled.[7] This time, Héritage would have been used on franchises stores.[7]

Notes and References

  1. News: Warehouse shopping pays off. Montreal Gazette. Montreal. D5. March 10, 1982.
  2. News: Steinberg circulars need scrutiny. Montreal Gazette. Montreal. C4. June 19, 1992.
  3. News: Competition is heating up in Quebec's $12-billion grocery market. Montreal Gazette. Montreal. C1. January 13, 1993.
  4. News: October 4, 1985 . Provigo to open nine Maxi stores . B5 . . Montreal .
  5. News: May 23, 1991 . Provigo franchisees chastise management: Competition from company-owned discount stores cited . B9 . . Toronto.
  6. News: Valdi stores close their doors. Montreal Gazette. Montreal. C3. April 21, 1995.
  7. Web site: Loblaw ne ressuscitera pas l'enseigne Héritage. 3 October 2014.