Published March 8, 2024

John Griffin, LJI Reporter

IGA Knowlton is getting a major makeover. A new generation of longtime Gazaille family owners and outside investors, a major $1-million-plus cash injection, four sleek new self-service check-out units, improved shelving, rejuvenated entry flooring and expanded staffing – all together bringing a fresh attitude and feel.
Think of the old IGA as a glorified depanneur, says the incoming generation. The new IGA is a supermarket!
Sabrina Royea is the branch’s service manager and, for many, the pleasant public face of the place. She says that after many years, a renovation is good for business. “It’s been business as usual. Opinion has been split 50/50 between those who love it and think the changes are a good thing and those who hate it and want everything to stay the same.”
Management’s long view is to improve the shopping experience, encourage more people to shop at IGA, and streamline the entire process to get bulging shopping bags out the door faster.
Subjectively, this regular costumer agrees with Royea. The surface area of the space has not changed. Fruit, vegetables and the meat area are where they have always been. Dry goods have shuffled rows but hardly enough to cause bafflement.
The fact you now have to steam to the far end to pick up a bottle of wine is probably a healthy thing and the colorful new wall of beer is a work of some artistic beauty. The overall impression is that owners care enough about the place and the people in it to improve the shopping experience. For them, progress at Knowlton IGA is a positive thing.

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