# Express Grocery Stores Sobeys' Unveiled a New Express Store Concept in Nova Scotia By Laura McQuarrie | Published 2016-01-20 | Business Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/express-store References: [newswire](http://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/sobeys-express---a-fresh-take-on-traditional-convenience-562772881.html) & [supermarketnews](http://supermarketnews.com/convenience-stores/sobeys-debuts-c-store-concept-atlantic-canada) Antigonish, Nova Scotia is now home to the first [Sobeys Express](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/homemade-food-marketplace) store, which the brand described as a new type of "a new [convenience and fuel format](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/trader-joes-pronto)." The new retail format was inspired by the Sobeys IGA Express stores in Quebec, but it puts more of an emphasis on fresh food options for on-the-go activities. In place of many packaged snacks that are found at other c-stores, Sobeys Express is designed to offer [fresher alternatives](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/storrd). A few of these options include butter croissant sandwiches, hot soups, cookies and other pastries that are freshly baked in-store each day. The Sobeys Express is almost like a small-scale supermarket and convenience store hybrid, especially as it stocks an assortment of rotisserie chickens and fresh salads. Months earlier, Sobey's also launched 'Chalo FreshCo,' its version of a discount Asian supermarket to appeal to Ontario's diverse and multicultural consumers. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.7/10 - Popularity: 58% | Activity: 45% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Business](https://www.trendhunter.com/business) > [Retail](https://www.trendhunter.com/retail) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Express Grocery Stores:** The rise of express grocery stores presents opportunities for innovative convenience and fuel formats that prioritize fresh food options. - **Fresh Food On-the-go:** The increasing demand for fresh on-the-go food options creates opportunities for retailers to offer freshly baked items, hot soups, and other convenient, healthier alternatives. - **Discount Ethnic Supermarkets:** The growth of discount ethnic supermarkets, such as Chalo FreshCo, caters to diverse and multicultural consumers, opening up disruptive innovation opportunities within the grocery industry. ### Where This Applies - **Retail:** Innovative retail concepts and express grocery stores have the potential to disrupt the traditional supermarket model and create new shopping experiences. - **Food Service:** The focus on fresh food options in express grocery stores presents opportunities for food service providers to collaborate and supply ready-to-eat meals and bakery products. - **Convenience Stores:** The emergence of express grocery stores challenges convenience store operators to update their offerings and incorporate fresher alternatives to stay competitive. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Virtual Convenience Store Concepts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/aldi-4.md) - [Discount Grocery Store Pilots](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/no-name-store.md) - [Neighborhood Retail Concepts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hasty-market.md) - [Compact Urban Discount Grocers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/no-frills-grocery-store.md) - [Small-Format Tech Stores](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/best-buy-express.md) - [Efficient On-the-Go Stores](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/parfetts-shop-go.md) - [Private Label Snack Ranges](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/private-label-snack.md) - [Reimagined Grocery Stores](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hyvee.md) - [Cashier-Free Grocer Expansions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/aisle-24-expansion.md)