Nature's Fair Markets in downtown Vernon.

(BEN BULMER / iNFOnews.ca)

VERNON - The Vernon-based grocery store Nature's Fair Markets has been bought by Buy-Low Foods for an undisclosed amount.

The health-conscious family-owned grocery retailer that opened its first store in Kelowna in 1993 and currently has its head office in Vernon, has been bought by Buy-Low Foods, which is part of the Jim Patterson Group. The company was founded by Rick Monahan, whose daughters Alexa Monahan and Claire Volpatti are part of the executive team.

In an email to iNFOnews.ca, Buy-Low Foods president Dan Bregg said it would be "business as usual" for Nature's Fair stores and the entire management team would be staying on. Bregg said there would be no changes to the business's operations or people's responsibilities.

Nature's Fair Markets currently have stores in Kamloops, Vernon, Kelowna, Westbank and Penticton, as well as Langley and White Rock. 

"We at Buy-Low are excited and very pleased that the excellent folks at Natures Fare Markets have joined our family of businesses and have become part of the Buy-Low Foods group of companies. We are proud that the Monahan family have chosen us to continue the legacy," Bregg said in the email.

Bregg said as a private company the finances would not be disclosed.

Buy-Low Foods was founded in 1966 and now has 60 corporate and franchise stores in communities throughout B.C., Alberta and Saskatchewan and include store banners Choices Markets, Meinhardt’s Fine Foods and Nesters Market. Buy-Low is also a grocery wholesale supplier to hundreds of independent retailers across Western Canada.

In 1995 Buy-Low Foods was purchased by the Jim Pattison Group.

No one from Nature's Fair was immediately available for comment.

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