MONTREAL – Provigo, a member of the Loblaw group (TSX: L), announced today that the Company would undertake major investments in its Québec store network of approximately $100 million this year, creating more than 100 incremental permanent jobs in different regions of the province.
A significant number of Provigo®, Loblaws®, Maxi® and Maxi & Cie® banner stores located in different regions of Québec will be part of the investment program. In addition to improving the experience of customers across the Company's store network in Québec, this announcement means employment for hundreds of workers retained by construction companies in various regions of the province.
A portion of the investment will be allocated towards creating the new concept version of Provigo and Loblaws stores in various regions of Québec. In addition to the recently announced new Provigo store at Cité du Parc in Sherbrooke, the existing Provigo Prieur store (Ahuntsic) and in Boucherville and the Loblaws stores in Magog, Saint-Bruno and Saint-Sauveur will each be renovated to adopt a similarly-inspired concept. The Loblaws store in Kirkland will also be renovated representing the flagship store of the Company's new conventional store model in Québec.
"Our teams travelled to several continents to identify best practices, allowing us to offer the richest in-store experience possible," said Pierre Dandoy, Senior Vice President, Operations, Provigo and Loblaws Québec. "Quebeckers love to cook and get together with family and friends to eat and they appreciate fresh, high quality, and locally sourced products. These key considerations are at the heart of our new store redesign and assortment of products."
A number of Maxi and Maxi & Cie stores are also included in this investment initiative. Certain store layouts will be reviewed and new equipment will be installed – enabling Maxi and Maxi & Cie stores to realize cost savings and even better meet the strong demand of consumers across Québec looking for food products, household items, clothing and quality health and beauty products at competitive prices.
"The investment announced today will allow us to optimize our stores network and underscore our commitment of Maxi and Maxi & Cie to maintaining best prices under our "Unbeatable. Period." program," said Jocyanne Bourdeau, Executive Vice President, Operations, Maxi and Maxi & Cie.
Maxi and Maxi & Cie stores offer the "Unbeatable. Period." program. The program means customers can simply present a proof of a better price offered by a major competing supermarket and that price will be matched on the spot.*
Provigo is a member of the Loblaw group. Loblaw operates nearly 400 corporate, franchised and affiliated stores in Québec and employs close to 30,000 people, making it the province's third largest employer. Every week, one in two Quebeckers shop at a store under one of Loblaw's eleven banners located in all regions of Québec.
About Provigo, a member of the Loblaw group
Provigo is a member of the Loblaw group, one of the largest private sector employers in Quebec and Canada's largest food retailer. Together with its related and affiliated companies, Loblaw employs nearly 30,000 people in Quebec through its almost 400 corporate, franchised and affiliated stores, operating mostly under the Provigo®, Maxi®, Maxi & Cie®, Loblaws®, Club Entrepôt Provigo® and Les Entrepôts Presto® banners. Loblaw also offers Canada's largest control label program, including the President's Choice®, no name® and Joe Fresh® brands. In addition, the company makes available to consumers President's Choice Financial® services and offers the PC® points loyalty program.
* Unbeatable. Period. (Imbattable. Point final !) means if a major supermarket competitor within this store's geographical trade area offers a lower price on any item (whether the item has the above symbol or not) that we carry in our store simply show us an advertisement or receipt and we will sell you that item at the same price. We will match the competitor's price only during the effective date of the competitor's advertisement or within 7 days of the receipt date. We match identical items defined as same brand, item type (in the case of produce, meat and bakery), size and attributes or comparable items in the case of private label. 'Our major supermarket competitors', 'geographical trade areas', and "comparable items" are determined solely by us and are based on a number of factors which can change from time to time. Excludes 'spend x get x' 'Free' and discounts obtained through loyalty programs. We reserve the right to limit quantities. The "Unbeatable. Period" Program does not apply to pharmacy affiliated to CENTRESanté banner and all over-thecounter (OTC) categories owned and sold by Quebec pharmacists as defined under applicable legislation, "À plein gaz" gas stations, dry cleaners, Canada Post counters or any other business operated by a third party within our stores. In no instance will our Program be applied if it violates effective rules and regulations. See store director for details.
Source: Provigo, member of Loblaw group