Grocery chain Metro is changing its strategy for online order fulfillment and will close its ghost store in Montreal. The decision affects more than 150 employees, though many of them will be reassigned to other positions within the company. The ghost store was used to fulfill customers’ online orders. The company plans to transition to a model where orders are processed in-store, with delivery handled by third parties. With this model, Metro aims to offer faster delivery, Chief Operating Officer Marc Giroux explained during a presentation to investors in August. “Consumer expectations are changing, and they increasingly expect same-day delivery,” explained the man who will become Metro’s CEO at the end of September. “By processing orders in-store, we’re getting closer to the customer, which will allow us to make more same-day deliveries.” The number of jobs affected had not been specified at that time. In an email, the employer stated that it is supporting its employees by giving them “access to numerous job opportunities” within the company. It affirmed that it is “actively” participating in the outplacement committee. Although “disappointed,” the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (TUAC) said that it had good cooperation with the employer. In particular, employees will have the option of being reassigned to 31 stores responsible for fulfilling online orders. However, these locations are spread throughout the Greater Montreal area. Other redeployment opportunities are also available. This matter is unrelated to the strike by employees at the Laval fruit and vegetable distribution centre, who are affiliated with the CSN. The drawn-out labour dispute has cost Metro $66 million after taxes over three months. The closure of the Montreal ghost store is part of a broader restructuring. In August, the company also announced a reorganization in Ontario, which resulted in the closure of a store and a warehouse, as well as the conversion of ten Metro stores to the Food Basics discount brand. The changes in Ontario and Montreal resulted in restructuring costs of $25.7 million. The company expects these measures to add $15 million annually to net income. Scotiabank analyst John Zamparo believes the decision to close the ghost store was a sound business decision. “Limiting capital expenditures has always been part of Metro’s online strategy,” he wrote in a note in August. “Now that investors favour third-party delivery, it seems even more appropriate.” This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Sept. 3, 2026.
