Project Sobeys Thrifty Foods

To store its wide range of dry and cold products, Sobey’s Thrifty Foods required a distribution building that was state-of-the-art. Constructed on 11.4 acres of Victoria International Airport Authority land, Wales McLelland built this 156,000 sq. ft. facility to meet industry standards and Sobey’s specialized storage needs. The exterior features insulated metal panels and a structural steel envelope, while the interior contains a 24,000 sq. ft. freezer, a 16,000 sq. ft. cooler/future freezer, 42,000 sq. ft. of dry storage with dry and cold docks, and a total of 30 loading bays.

An innovative storage facility requires an innovative space to manage it. So Sobey’s mandated that this project also meet LEED® requirements for their new office. Situated on the ground floor with a 6,000 sq. ft. mezzanine, the total 12,000 sq. ft. space was built to the latest industry standards and completed in 2012. It features efficient plumbing fixtures and a system that uses waste heat from the refrigeration to heat the offices, water, and floors. It also provides power to the electric outlets for hybrid vehicles.