Loblaw closing 22 stores by Q1 2018
by The Canadian Press
The decision comes a month after the massive grocery and retail company announced it would cut 500 corporate and store-support jobs
BRAMPTON, Ont.—Loblaw Companies Ltd. says it has finalized a plan that will result in the closure of 22 unprofitable stores across a range of its banners and formats.
The company says it expects that the closures will be substantially complete by the end of the first quarter of next year.
The move comes as Loblaw more than doubled its third-quarter profit compared with a year ago as its results were boosted by the sale of its gas bar business.
The retailer says its profit attributable to common shareholders totalled $883 million or $2.24 per diluted share for the 16 week ended Oct. 7. That compared with a profit of $419 million or $1.03 per diluted share for the same period last year.
Revenue totalled $14.19 billion, up from $14.14 in the third quarter of 2016.
The results included a $432-million gain on the sale of the company’s gas station business to Brookfield Business Partners. Excluding the deal and other one-time item, Loblaw says it earned an adjusted profit attributable to common shareholders of $549 million or $1.39 per share for the quarter, up from $512 million or $1.26 per share a year ago.
Last month, Loblaw announced it would cut 500 corporate and store-support jobs.
