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KIVALLIQ - Kivalliq residents have another choice when ordering groceries through the food mail program.

Safeway joined the program this past week, and now ships fresh, affordable groceries to communities in northern Manitoba and the Kivalliq region.

Safeway manager Gerald Muench, left, and assistant manager Peter Kasprick pack food mail in Winnipeg for delivery to the Kivalliq this past week. - photo courtesy of John Graham

Kivalliq residents will be able to shop remotely at Safeway's Winnipegbased shipping store by using the personal shopper service.

Public affairs manager John Graham said mailorder customers will have access to more than 40,000 different products, and receive Air Mile rewards and all applicable club card discounts on their purchases.

He said Safeway is tied into the federal food mail program and ships regular freight items, as well.

"Kivalliq shoppers who chose Safeway will get the exact shipping prices as they currently receive using the food mail program," said Graham.

"During the past year, we were contacted by a number of people in various communities who asked if we participated in food mail.

"We hadn't even heard of food mail until a year ago, but, as additional requests came forward, we began to take an interest in it."

Graham said Kivalliq consumers should find the 40,000 items Safeway offers to be quite attractive.

He said the store will ship any product a customer wishes, which, in many cases, they can't access from existing food mail suppliers.

"What we've heard from customers who've already responded is that people really like the selection.

"Because of our buying volumes, we're able to offer the same selection, prices and weekly discounts you'd get shopping in the store yourself.

"So, really, we're sharing the conveniences and abilities of a customer who's actually in the store with people we'll be shipping to in Northern communities."

Safeway's personal shopper service promises to make shopping at the store a straight-forward experience.

Graham said a person is assigned to each order placed with the store.

"The person will contact the customer to clarify anything that isn't obvious and proceed to shop the order.

"They will then call the customer back, tell them the order is ready, give them the total price, and ask if everything's OK and if there's anything else they require.

"We try to match one order with one person, and as best we can, emulate being there yourself."

Safeway has a website (safewayfoodmail.ca) customers can use to see weekly specials, order online and adjust orders.

He said payment can be made with any credit card or the CashLink debit service.

"This is an exciting time for Safeway, and we're looking forward to providing our services to people in Northern communities.

"We're hoping they'll find shopping with Safeway to be a better experience than what maybe exists right now."