Sobeys enacts price cuts in Western Canada

Sobeys has debuted lower everyday prices at its stores in Western Canada.

​Sobeys on Friday debuted lower everyday prices on nearly 10,000 grocery items at its Sobeys and Safeway stores in Western Canada.

The price cuts represent the first in-store execution of the Stellarton, Nova Scotia-based retailer's "Simplified Buy & Sell" initiative, which officials described as a "rebalancing" of its promotional and a everyday shelf pricing, enabled in part by renegotiating with suppliers.

Sobeys officials said goals of the initiative included better cost transparency and category management, along with a better overall price perception that would improve sales volumes.

Sales flyers for stores in Saskatchewan and British Columbia, breaking Friday, said prices have been reduced on 3,000 grocery essentials; 2,000 household cleaning and beauty items; 2,000 snack foods; 1,000 frozen food items; 900 natural and organic products and 800 dairy items. The grocery price cuts follow previous efforts to reduce everyday prices of produce and meat.

Sobeys has seen sales tumble in Western Canada in the aftermath of its takeover of Safeway stores there, as well as by a worsening economy and intensifying competition in those provinces.