Brandon’s city councilor, Jason Splett, is expressing concern about a vacant 42,000-square-foot retail space on 18th Street in south Brandon. The space has remained empty since 2017 when Sobeys relocated to a new spot across the street. Sobeys, currently leasing the vacant space from Shindico until 2028, has faced criticism for potentially hindering competition in the area.
Residents like Beth Brown from Deloraine, located 85 kilometers southwest of Brandon, are eager to see a new business fill the space, suggesting a lower-priced grocery store like No Frills would be beneficial. Some Brandonites, including Charlie Muller, believe that consumers may be indirectly bearing the cost of the unused property through grocery prices.
In response to concerns about anti-competitive behavior in the grocery industry, Manitoba’s NDP government has introduced legislation prohibiting grocery stores from impeding competition through restrictive leases. Glen Simard, the provincial minister for municipal relations, emphasized the need for increased competition to drive down prices in the grocery sector.
While over 40 companies, including Walmart and Sobeys, applied for exemptions under the new legislation, Loblaws withdrew their exemption requests. The government plans to challenge existing agreements to ensure compliance with the new regulations.
Despite the availability of multiple grocery retailers in Brandon, including Sobeys, Safeway, Superstore, Walmart, and Co-op, the vacant Sobeys location remains a concern for Councilor Splett, who hopes to see new business activity in the area. The community is eager to see the space revitalized with a new business to benefit the south end of Brandon.