Awesome grocery store with a wonderful London Fog tea latte mix that I bought just to test because…read moreI was missing my favorite hot beverage. It was phenomenal and I wish I had bought more. Everything else was great--service, atmosphere, friendly vibe. I'll be back when I'm in town.

If you don't like the crowds, don't go here on Super Tuesday! Super Tuesday is 10% off everything!…read moreEVERYTHING! It's great, but busy! We arrived on a Tuesday and forgot about this so we got caught up in the hustle. Best grocery store on the island. It's shopable and their cafe is great! Compared to some of the competitors this is the best. I just miss the bowling alley across the street. Don't sleep on their bakery. If you're not getting the Nanaimo bars you're just losing money! The check out clerks and very friendly...sometimes too friendly...Just the other day I was chatting with my husband and the clerk made an odd comment and in our A and B conversation, he did NOT C his way out it. It was all in good fun though, we do truly love this place, and don't forget to hit the dispensary next door! That place is magical!

I love this store. Their deli counter is a great place for lunch, and the dining area out front is…read morereally pleasant. We came back every day and noticed a lot of the same cars coming and going - so others were doing the same. Samosas and baked goods stand out.

While visiting our friends who are new home owners a short distance away, we walked over to this…read morecute little store where I felt right at home! From fresh veggies to a lovely deli to canned goods to frozen organic meats (and meat alternatives), it's worth a visit! I walked over by myself to even have a cup of coffee and hangout!

Best selection of cheese and specialty deli goods, hands down. Wonderful shop, helpful and…read moreinformative staff. My favourite store in town for gourmet snacks and nibbles (for everyday!). Special shout-out to the heavenly cheese selection and the cute and clean premises. They also have an Italian pork jowl that I can't find anywhere else in town. Considering the rising price of eating out (and junk food), I will get myself some fancy treats here every week instead.

Although the staff at McLean's was extremely friendly and knowledgeable, and I did get hooked by…read morethe nostalgic story of the place, I was kind of unimpressed with McLean's. We got a LOT of stuff there, including crackers, pate, cheeses, jams, and a bunch of other items, all of which sort of flatlined. Now, in McLean's defense, the pate and cheeses were the only things they brought in specifically under their name. And the place was EXTREMELY cute, and they served sandwiches, and the owner was friendly and on premesis, and they'd let you bring wine if you wanted... ...but really, everything flatlined. The fig crackers tasted like prunes. The sheep's brie was overly strong in flavor, almost off-tasting. The porter cheddar tasted like...plain cheddar. The pate was bland. One standout was a cheese (I forget the name) which had a line of gorgonzola down the centre. Really, of everything we bought, this is the only thing I'd consider re-purchasing. Now I don't want to rule this place out based on one trip, but it *was* expensive (some of the crackers and jams were way over-priced) and I *was* disappointed, considering how it's touted around town as being wonderful. I like to support local businesses, so I will be back to purchase a significantly smaller portion of cheese. Till then...

This place is a must stop for those who venture to Pender Island! If you want delicious pre-made…read moremeals - dips - soups, a fantastic cheese selection, baked goods, condiments galore, and a multitude of goodies - this is your place! Someone named Amanda (I assume is the owner) makes the most amazing dips! We got them all along with cheeses and meets for an epic charcuterie board. My favourite was the pimento, and French onion dips. My friend loved the artichoke and salsa (note - this was heavily cumin forward). We also got their hummus which is basic (and is named so). My fave cheese was their garlic herb cheese but we didn't go wrong with their variety. I also got all the vegetarian alternatives here! Well priced and stocked! I regret not getting their in-house backed tortilla chips! They offered samples that I tried on my way out! Rookie mistake! Don't miss this place! It's a must when visiting the island!

* My kind of store *…read more Ok, if I lived on Pender Island this is DEFINITELY where I would be doing my grocery shopping. This little store focuses heavily on organic and ethnic foods. The selection was quite impressive. In fact it looked like a mini version of Famous Foods in Vancouver (http://www.yelp.ca/biz/famous-foods-vancouver#hrid:WwIBf4hsEi5WU0nm1P3hJQ), and the prices were not terribly much higher than Famous Foods - which is amazing considering it is a small store on an island with high transportation costs. The prices for items which were also available at the bigger Tru Value (http://www.yelp.ca/biz/tru-value-foods-pender-island#hrid:HIXC7EuR2wBNHJFzCksezA) were actually lower here for things like organic milk, eggs, etc. What a pleasant surprise. There were also Japanese, Chinese, Indian, Polish, German, Italian, and other products making for a very nice selection. I get the impression they will source whatever people request as well if there is something you need. Nice little store!

Popped in for some necessities and found a few fun local items sprinkled throughout. Very helpful…read moreoutlet on island, right near ferry. A bit jumbled but some good local options if you poke around a bit

Great for any bits and bobs you forgot. Pricing is normal for a quick stop gas station grocer, a…read morebit high but not unreasonable since you're paying for convenience. Nice staff, lots of beer wine and spirits. A good selection of produce and dairy.

While on the road, we found everything we were looking for with a wide selection to choose from…read more More than a grocery store, it has many different dry goods and hardware items. Great service and an easy layout to find what you need.

The only grocery store in town, this is a large grocery…read more Stopped in here with a friend while driving around and I bought some postcards for $0.25/each. Friendly cashiers. Giant parking lot. Funny sign in the ladies restroom that looked like it was from a truck stop.

Came to this market to pick up some fruits for the road. BC Peaches are not sweet. Plums were…read moreokay. We got some oranges from South Africa.

I have been shopping here for about five years, and I love it and could not go anywhere else! When…read moreI had a very serious injury when I broke my foot in two places, the staff were so helpful with helping with groceries into the car, and have always been super friendly. Some of those young students staff were especially so kind to me when I was so badly injured. They have a good selection and I especially love the convenience of their fabulous organic and health section that beats all the other stores. I love it when they bring in the fresh dandelion leaves and so did my naturopath who cured a patient of a serious health issue when I told their office that the leaves were available at Country Grocer! I actually love this store due to its organized aisles and cleanliness, too. (We won't be mentioning the problems at other stores...) Listen - they even sell organic soil and pretty flowers!!! Love it! Would never go anywhere else. xo

We couldn't get enough of this place during our brief time on Saltspring Island. We stayed at the…read morehotel directly across from Thrifty Foods, and though most things were closed for the holidays- Thrifty was an open shining healthy beacon. I stocked up on organic trail mixes, kombucha, blueberries, stevia, matcha, and much more during my excited visits here. This place has everything that you could dream of - when it comes to health related goods and products. Their staff are laid back and they let you peruse everything without bothering you - so definitely feel free to take your time in here. I'm a firm believer that a quality grocery store can truly help shape the culture of a small town. Saltspring is blessed to have such a phenomenal resource like Thrifty Foods. Though there are plenty of lovely local farms on this magical island - it's nice to have a haven where you stock up on produce, essential oils, and other bulk items. Trust.

When I imagine the lady or gentleman who dictates the prices of groceries at this SSI stop, I…read morepicture an evil genius in a dark and shadowed room cackling "THE POWER!". ... there are only a few spots to snag groceries on the island and mmmaaannn can you tell. If you're spending a few nights or over from the mainland - expect sticker shock to hit you like a freight train. And our American friends? Bring someone with you to speak soothingly while you shop... It's expensive. Ridiculously expensive. But beyond that, it's your pretty standard grocery store. The pros: 1. To balance the exorbitant grocery costs, they have some seriously stunning deals on produce. $1 for a quart of strawberries?! 0.98/lb for oranges?! Hot damn. The money you save will buy your $2.99 SINGLE AVOCADO. 2. They have really good, fresh baked gluten free bread. 3. They carry Krema Honeylicious. Bonus points every time. And goat's milk yogurt which can be tricky to track. 4. Everyone who works there is SUPER cheerful. Actually most people on SSI are super cheerful. Must be something in the air... It's one of two. So you're just going to have to deal with it. But hey, look at the positives and stuff your gullet with strawberries.