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Metro Inc. retains A&P Canada name

Metro Inc.'s acquisition of A&P Canada will translate into "significant new growth opportunities for several national, regional and corporate brand vendors," according to a letter the company recently distributed to its suppliers. The letter, which was signed by Tony Morello, senior vice-president and chief merchandising officer, A&P Canada; and Johanne Choiniere, senior vice-president and general manager, Super C, indicated that focusing much of Metro-A&P's "immediate energy in pursuit of synergies" tops its agenda. The letter, dated August 22, featured a "A New Canadian Grocery POWER" logo below its dual name letterhead of Metro Inc. and A&P Canada. Morello and Choiniere said a business review is imminent—to identify potential synergies in the corporate brands, grocery, perishable and pharmacy areas of the company. It also expressed dedication to achieving synergies through cost optimization by leveraging the new collective size and scale in "every category while maintaining principles of category management, satisfying our customer expectation and creating value to all stakeholders." The company will provide more detailed information at two breakfast meetings: on September 13 at the Sheraton Laval, near Montreal, and on September 15 at the Toronto Congress Centre, near Pearson International Airport. Source: Canadian Grocer E-Newsletter, September 2nd.,2005.