Market News

Metro Banner Launches in Ontario

With the conversion of six Dominion locations in Toronto, the Metro banner was launched in Ontario last week. This evolution is part of a strategy adopted following the acquisition of A&P in 2005 that strives to make Metro the largest grocery banner in Ontario. Its five conventional grocery banners in Ontario (Dominion, A&P, Loeb, The Barn and Ultra) will all fall under the Metro banner over the next 15 months. All of the Dominion, Ultra and The Barn stores will be converted before the end of the year, while Loeb stores will be converted during the first half of 2009, and A&P stores will be converted by the end of 2009. At present, the 158 Ontario locations with the Metro name will be added to the 218 Metro stores in Quebec. Food Basics stores are not affected by these changes because they fall into the discount stores category. http://www.globeinvestor.com/servlet/story/CNW.20080925.C8375/GIStory Source: Canadian Grocer E-Newsletter, October 3, 2008