MONTREAL — Grocery and drugstore retailer Metro Inc. reported a third-quarter profit of $211.3 million, down from $323 million a year earlier, as the strike at its produce distribution centre in Laval, Que. drags on for more than four months. The company says the profit amounted to $1.00 per diluted share for the 16-week period ended July 4 compared with a profit of $1.48 per share in the same quarter last year. Sales for the quarter totalled $6.97 billion, up from $6.87 billion a year earlier. The increase came as food same-store sales were down 1.5 per cent for the quarter. Pharmacy same-store sales were up 4.8 per cent, boosted by a 6.4 per cent increase in prescription drugs and a 1.4 per cent increase in front-store sales. On an adjusted basis, Metro says it earned $1.24 per diluted share in its latest quarter, down from $1.52 per diluted share a year earlier. RBC analyst Irene Nattel said in a note the ongoing strike continues to weigh on performance. An indefinite general strike at the Laval distribution centre began on March 30, with union members demanding better pay and working conditions. It’s the only produce distribution centre Metro has in Quebec and supplies more than 350 stores in the province, including Super C and Metro Plus. In its outlook, the grocer indicated its fourth quarter results would be “significantly impacted” as the strike carries on with no clear timeline to end the disruption. “After four weeks in the fourth quarter, our food same-store sales are down 1.5 per cent,” the company said in its outlook. Metro’s Laval distribution centre employs 550 unionized workers and provides fresh produce to about 300 stores in Quebec. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 12, 2026.
