Will we soon be trading our shopping loyalties to President's Choice?

The Financial pages are abuzz with the prospect of a major change to Grocery Shopping options in British Columbia, with speculation that Canada Safeway may be on the market, with a number of suitors seemingly lining up for a chance to pick up the company's assets.

High among them the Ontario based Loblaw's chain which apparently has a large sum of money available for investment and Canada Safeway it seems is on their target list and has been on the rumour list for a while now as a potential takeover target.

The National Post outlined the number crunching that will see Loblaw's end up with about 670 million dollars to use for acquisitions, with Canada Safeway seemingly the target of preference, offering Loblaw's the chance to grow its brand in Western Canada a part of the country where it is still rather low in numbers.

Another possibility for any Safeway takeover is the eastern based  Sobey's chain which like Loblaw's, have yet to make a move in great numbers over the Rocky Mountains.

There is even some thought that the Overwaitea chain may also be a tantalizing prospect on the Loblaw's radar in Western Canada, Overwaitea stores located in most communities in British Columbia and would make for a quick and large presence for Loblaws across the province.

Loblaw's, Canada's largest food retailer, once had a presence in Prince Rupert, all be it indirectly through the Extra Foods store that once was located in the Rupert Square, many of their line of President's Choice products were featured on the shelves prior to that stores closing in the aftermath of a nasty labour dispute.

The potential shake up of the grocery sector is part of a larger issue facing the traditional grocery store these days, as such locations as Wal Mart and the soon to arrive in Canada Target, expand the grocery options that they have to offer in their stores.

Should the rumblings of the financial world prove true, Loblaw's may once again enter the Prince Rupert market, however, the shopping options for the dedicated grocery store will remain the same, with the potential loss of one long established and familiar brand, or the other as the price of financial transactions.

Some other reviews of the potential changes in your daily shopping plans can be found below.

Toronto Star-- Safeway likely to be sold as food fight heats up: Analyst
Vancouver Market -- Loblaw buying Canada Safeway No Pipe Dream in Spinoff
Bull fax-- Will Loblaw snap up Safeway with its REIT riches?

Rupertites line up to view the new Walmart

The thirst for shopping in the community has been such, that a crowd estimated at more than one hundred stood outside the new Walmart location prior to their 8 am opening.

With a line stretching through the parking lot in the early morning darkness, Rupertites waited for their opportunity to enter the doors of one of the world's most recognizable corporate names.

Taking over the space from the departed Zellers chain, Walmart embarked on an ambitious renovation project, revitalizing the spirits of the shopping class of the city, while providing for a boost to the Rupert Square Mall, which had suffered a number of closures over the last few years.

Ever since it was officially announced that Walmart was destined for Prince Rupert, local residents have been looking forward to its arrival with anticipation for today's opening. Watching with interest as workers moved in and out of the Rupert Square to make the new location ready for shoppers.

The Prince Rupert version, while smaller than some of the larger stores of North America, including the one in Terrace, will serve to fill in the hole in the local commercial scene created by the Zellers departure of earlier this year and perhaps keep a few of those cars from making the trek to Terrace every Saturday.

A number of dignitaries attended the official opening today, which offered up the chance for a number of speeches from local officials and corporate managers alike.

The Mayor made the most of his appearance at the official opening, congratulating the company on its choice to locate in the city and create jobs, while making mention of Walmart joining the list of businesses that have opened in the last year and half.

One imagines that the arrival of Walmart, was perhaps a little more anticipated than most of the rest of the Mayors list.

In some communities the arrival of a Walmart is at times greeted with a sense of trepidation, heralding the potential decline of other local business options. However, in Rupert, as a quick scan of Third Avenue would testify to, that process seemingly has long been in motion prior to the chains arrival.

Perhaps that is why the bright yellow and blue signs on the side of the Rupert Square have been welcomed by so many today.

For a good number of Rupertites, beyond the placement of a recognized chain store and a new shopping option in the city, Walmart's arrival perhaps for some is a sign of confidence in a community which has already seen its commercial class depleted through the last ten years.

CFTK TV 7 -- Rupert Walmart (video)
The Northern View-- Prince Rupert Walmart holds opening grand ceremony