Okotoks Natural Foods struck gold in the Western Wheel Readers' Choice Awards.
The organic and health food retailer was chosen as the best place to buy organic food during this year’s awards. The store offers a variety of products from supplements to personal care and household items, to specialty and organic groceries.
Owner Brenda Shaw said being chosen for the award is a great feeling.
"(It) encourages us to keep going at what we're doing," Shaw said. "And be there and provide for the community even more."
She said that building relationships with customers and offering the best experience possible is an important part of the store's success.
“It’s a really good, friendly rapport that we have with all of our customers, beyond just making a sale," she said.
Beyond making sales, she said Okotoks Natural Foods is a place people can go with any questions or concerns, and that attitude means customers are not merely customers.
“We know them well," she said. "A lot of them are very close.”
Shaw said staff are great listeners, are helpful, and offer great customer service, and those are all big draws for people who visit the store.
“I think a lot of customers come to us for that feel," she said. "For the vibe that our store puts out.”
She said the health food industry is growing, and it seems like more people every week come into the store for the first time.
Brenda and her husband James purchased Okotoks Natural Foods from the previous owners in 2016. Two years ago, they moved it to its current location on Village Lane.
They try to support as many local producers as possible and source items locally or throughout Alberta.
The couple have nearly two decades of experience in the health food industry and have operated health food stores since 2009.
