Montreal, October 22, 2012 - Metro Inc. (TSX: MRU) announces today that it has reached an agreement to sell its Distagro foodservice division to Sysco Canada, Inc., a subsidiary of Sysco Corporation (NYSE.SYY). Distagro supplies mainly restaurant chains and stores corporately owned and operated by gas station chains.
The transaction involves the Distagro warehouse in Boucherville which employs close to 140 people. Metro will however continue to operate the Saint-Jean-Port-Joli warehouse and serve the Marché Ami, Marché Extra, Service, Servi Express and Dépanneur Gem banners that were supplied by Distagro.
The transaction stems from Metro Inc.'s desire to focus on the growth of its core business, namely food stores and pharmaceutical distribution. Upon closing of the transaction, the 140 employees will become employees of Sysco Canada, Inc.
The transaction is expected to close around mid-December of this year and is subject to the usual conditions, including regulatory approval.
The transaction will not have a material impact on Metro’s financial results.
Metro Inc.
With annual sales of over $11 billion and over 65,000 employees, Metro Inc. is a leader in the food and pharmaceutical sectors in Québec and Ontario, where it operates a network of more than 600 food stores under several banners including Metro, Metro Plus, Super C and Food Basics, as well as over 250 drugstores under the Brunet, The Pharmacy and Drug Basics banners.
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Marie-Claude Bacon
Senior Director, Corporate Affairs
514 643-1086
mbacon@metro.ca
Source: Metro Inc.