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HAY RIVER - On Monday, the co-owners of Big Way Foods relocated their store under a new name and in a brand new 1,200-square foot facility.

The new moniker, Super A Foods, was the name of a grocery store that formerly operated in Hay River until it was bought out by the Northern Store 15 years ago.

From left, Super A Foods co-owners John Hill, Tracy Hill and Steve Anderson stand in the aisle of their newly-built grocery store, which opened one week ago in Hay River. - Paul Bickford/NNSL photo

Renaming Big Way Foods serves two purposes, according to co-owner and general manager Steve Anderson.

"We wanted a new identity for the new store and we wanted to re-introduce the Super A name," said Anderson, adding the old Super A store had a good reputation among Hay River residents.

The new store's retail space has grown considerably in size, going from 6,000 square feet to 11,000 square feet, which has allowed Anderson and fellow co-owners John and Tracy Hill to bring some features previously unavailable at Big Way Foods.

"We've gone from eight doors of frozen foods to 55 doors of frozen foods. Ten doors of ice cream," said John. "Out of the whole grocery file, there might have been a dozen things that we didn't order."

"We have a new bakery with lots of variety," added Anderson.

"We have an increased produce department. Those are two departments that we really focused on for Hay River."

The store's staff has also undergone considerable growth.

The labour force at Big Way Foods totalled 30.

"We've increased our local employment here by about 20 people," said Anderson.

Of the total 50 people now working at Super A, half of them are full-time, added Hill.

"We're locally owned and locally operated. The people we employ are all from Hay River and the money re-circulates back into the community," said Hill.

Construction on the project began last November. Small finishing touches were applied right until the night before opening.

The main contractor was Arcan Construction, based in Hay River.

"We did everything local, except the refrigeration, but we did have a local plumbing and heating company assist with that company when they were here," Hill said.

A representative from the Northwest Company, whose Northern Store is the main competition for Super A Foods in Hay River, could not be reached for comment.