Whole Foods Market plans to open a Greater Victoria store in the fall of 2016 at Uptown shopping centre in Saanich.

After years of whispers, the Austin, Texas-based grocery giant announced Wednesday an expansion that also includes new stores in Edmonton, Calgary and Bellingham, Washington.

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The company, which specializes in organic and natural foods, has four stores in Metro Vancouver and is building two more in Burnaby and North Vancouver.

The Victoria store will be 40,000 square feet at Uptown’s third phase on the 3500-block of Blanshard Street and will employ 150 people.

“It’s such a happy day for us,” said Susan Livingston, Whole Foods’ executive marketing co-ordinator for the Pacific Northwest. “I’ve gotten a lot of phone calls over the last three years about Victoria. We’re very excited to be moving into new markets in Canada.” Livingston said Whole Foods has been looking at Greater Victoria for a long time. “It’s taken a long time to find the right site and partners, but the timing is right with this site, the developer and the whole project.” The company takes into account demographics, the employment base and vendor mix before it opens a new store, she said.

Whole Foods also took into account what it sees as a competitive market in Greater Victoria. “There’s definitely competition in the marketplace and because it’s an isolated community, it’s a different dynamic,” Livingston said. “We are well aware there are both conventional and natural and organic competitors there, but what we typically find as we go into markets is that there’s enough business for all of us.

“Not only do other grocers see a boom, especially the natural and organic ones, but farmers’ markets also typically see a strong increase in participation and growth.”

Ralf Mundel, director of communications for Thrifty Foods, said the addition of Whole Foods could boost a program his company has long pushed. “There’s no denying they are a very good operator ... but the coolest thing about Whole Foods coming is what it represents for the Island,” he said. “They are so committed to local growers, similar to Thrifty Foods. They, like us, will help to elevate the whole local agenda for the Island.

“It’s what we have been doing for the last 40 years.”

Uptown general manager Roberta Ferguson said final construction approval is expected soon from Saanich. “We’re happy the rumours are now put to rest and we have such a wonderful complement to Uptown, and to Greater Victoria and the Island as well,” she said.

Ferguson said she expects Whole Foods will draw people from all over the Island and has been told the company is already working with local food producers to identify potential suppliers.

Livingston said before the store is built, Whole Foods will work to understand the Greater Victoria market, get to know the decision-makers and those who help to shape community priorities. “We will also do a deep dive in terms of understanding the wants of the customer base here,” she said. The store is to include a butcher, fishmonger, baker and chefs creating takeout meals.

Whole Foods has 403 stores employing 87,000 people in three countries — 384 in the U.S., 10 in Canada and nine in the U.K.

aduffy@timescolonist.com