Shoppers Drug Mart testing sales of groceries, according to reports

Brampton, Ontario — Shoppers Drug Mart, which was acquired by grocer Loblaw nearly a year ago, is testing the sale of fresh foods in select locations, according to published reports.



Tapping into Loblaw’s strengths and expertise, the Canadian pharmacy retailer is piloting the sale of fresh food in six locations, including fresh produce and meats.



According to reports, the pilot kicked off in late September, less than a year after Loblaw finalized the $12.4 billion acquisition of Shoppers Drug Mart in March 2014. Expanding its food offerings will no doubt help position Shoppers Drug Mart as a convenient one-stop destination. In fact, according to reports, the pharmacy retailer is not banking on providing consumers with discounted prices but rather convenience. While Target has exited Canada, the market remains competitive.



Walmart Canada has announced plans to expand its footprint with 29 supercentre projects for the company’s fiscal year. This is in addition to the 11 Walmart supercentres that recently opened across Canada in January. The expansion will bring Walmart Canada’s store count to 396 by the end of January 2016, consisting of 309 supercentres and 87 discount stores. In addition, Whole Foods Market, which has been in Canada for more than 10 years, just announced that it is continuing its expansion in Western Canada with three new locations.