The news that Family Foods has been sold and business partners Keith Sheardown and Ken Naylor are retiring will change the Osoyoos retail grocery landscape.
Between the two of them, Sheardown and Naylor have been in the grocery business just shy of a century. And they’ve been business partners for the past 34 years.
That’s a long time to work in one career and both men certainly now deserve happy retirements, although Naylor at least plans to continue as a part-time grocery consultant.
Family Foods has played an important role in the Osoyoos community, regularly donating to and sponsoring community events and charities.
Over the years the store has operated under different names and with the new ownership, its name will change again.
At a time when the grocery business is increasingly becoming one of large-scale retailers selling products at low mark-ups, it is essential for smaller stores such as Family Foods to maintain customer loyalty through their active involvement in the community.
The new buyer, AG (Associated Grocers) Foods, is part of the same grocery family as Buy-Low Foods, which runs Osoyoos’ other major grocery store.
It remains to be seen how the two stores will differentiate themselves, but Sheardown and Naylor believe that AG Foods is also community minded and has been operating smaller grocery stores throughout B.C. for nearly half a century.
The decision to keep the present Family Foods staff is also an important signal that the new buyer wants continuity and understands the importance of a friendly and qualified staff, who live in the community.
After so many years in the business, always playing active roles in the community, Naylor and Sheardown have earned their retirement.
Their experience with running Family Foods has included such challenges as two devastating fires and an economic downturn.
Naylor plans to play tennis and enjoy the Okanagan sunshine. Sheardown plans to do some fishing and travelling.
We wish both men happy retirements and we thank them for all they have done for Osoyoos.
