Franchise Owner Academy Program

Come make your difference in communities across Canada, where authenticity, trust and making connections is valued – as we shape the future of Canadian retail, together. Our commitment to positively impact the lives of all Canadians provides employees a range of opportunities and experiences to help Canadians Live Life Well.
At valu-mart, we succeed through collaboration and commitment and set a high bar for ourselves and those around us.
Inspired by food? Committed to excellent service? So are we. At Valu-Mart, we are Food Lovers We are committed to our Colleagues and Customers and work hard to create a culture that allows us to be our authentic selves while working as a Team. We know that clear communication, collaboration and teamwork is the key to having a successful workplace.   We're looking for talented colleagues who are excited about providing an exceptional shopping experience for customers and delighting them every step of the way Whether you are just starting your career, re-entering the workforce, or looking for a new job, this is where you belong.

Your Independent Grocer, a leading banner within Loblaw Companies Limited, is dedicated to cultivating the next generation of exceptional retail leaders. We are thrilled to introduce the Franchise Owner Academy Program – an advanced, intensive, and highly experiential development journey designed to transform high-potential retail leaders into successful, high-performing Franchise Owners.

Through this program, you will gain unparalleled breadth of experience, comprehensive knowledge, and direct exposure to the diverse intricacies of our multi-banner retail operations. If you are passionate about retail, possess strong leadership capabilities, and aspire to lead your own franchise, this program is your accelerated path to success.

What You'll Gain:

The Franchise Academy Program offers a unique, accelerated path to franchise ownership with Your Independent Grocer. Through immersive, real-world experience, you will:

• Build experience across high-performing grocery franchise locations nationwide

• Lead and support special projects, including new store openings, renovations, and banner-wide initiatives

• Develop a strong understanding of the franchise ownership model

• Strengthen financial acumen and operational excellence

• Receive mentorship and coaching from experienced Franchise Owners and leaders

• Build a national network to support your long-term success as an Owner

Who We Are Looking For:

We welcome dynamic leaders who bring a passion for retail, food, and community service, coupled with a strong commitment to our core values.

• Minimum of 5 years of leadership experience in the grocery and/or retail sector (Store Manager or Assistant Store Manager experience highly preferred)

• Proven ability to inspire, develop, and lead high-performing teams.

• A strong understanding of store operations, merchandising, and financial performance (P&L, budgeting, shrink, labour management)

• Demonstrated ability to lead and inspire teams in unionized or non-union environments

• Excellent customer service and relationship-building skills

• Strong business acumen and entrepreneurial drive

• Commitment to community engagement and values-driven leadership

• Flexibility to travel across Canada frequently – up to 70% of the time

• Willingness to relocate (within Canada) for franchise opportunities upon training completion

Please note: Franchise Ownership (following Academy Program completion) requires a personal investment of $50,000 readily available

Our commitment to Sustainability and Social Impact is an essential part of the way we do business, and we focus our attention on areas where we can have the greatest impact. Our approach to sustainability and social impact is based on three pillars – Environment, Sourcing and Community – and we are constantly looking for ways to demonstrate leadership in these important areas. Our CORE Values – Care, Ownership, Respect and Excellence – guide all our decision-making and come to life through our Blue Culture. We offer our employees progressive careers, comprehensive training, flexibility, and other competitive benefits – these are some of the many reasons why we are one of Canada's Top Employers, Canada's Best Diversity Employers, Canada's Greenest Employers & Canada's Top Employers for Young People.

If you are unsure whether your experience matches every requirement above, we encourage you to apply anyway. We are looking for varied perspectives which include diverse experiences that we can add to our team.
We have a long-standing focus on diversity, equity and inclusion because we know it will make our company a better place to work and shop. We are committed to creating accessible environments for our employees, candidates and customers. Requests for accommodation due to a disability (which may be visible or invisible, temporary or permanent) can be made at any stage of application and employment. We encourage candidates to make their accommodation needs known so that we can provide equitable opportunities.  
 
Please Note :
Candidates who are 18 years or older are required to complete a criminal background check. Details will be provided through the application process.    

NOTE : The Employer noted in this posting is an independently owned corporation ("Franchisee") which is licensed to use the "Valu-Mart" trademark(s) by Loblaws Inc. Applicants hired by a franchisee will be employees of the franchisee. No employment or similar relationship will be created between the applicant and Loblaws Inc. or its affiliates.

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